Qixue had left the palace today specifically for the banquet and had not brought any silver with him. He was considering whether to remove a hairpin to use as betting stakes when Dong Yuan pulled out a pouch of gold beans as if by magic. Smiling, he asked Qixue, “How much does Your Ladyship plan to bet?”
“Then ten each on the Yellow Team and the White Team,” Qixue said.
Following the instruction, Dong Yuan summoned a young eunuch to place the bets at the edge of the field. A betting board had already been set up there, surrounded so tightly by servants from various families that not a drop of water could trickle through. The banker was naturally the Jia Ning County Princess, who was hosting the spring banquet.
The odds for the four teams varied. The lowest were for Wei Huai’s Red Team, as the most people had bet on them to win.
Next were the Yellow Team, which reportedly had several skilled players. The Blue Team and White Team had higher odds, with the White Team having the highest among the four.
In addition to betting on team victories, there were bets on total scores and individual points. The gambling options were varied and colorful, but Qixue didn’t understand the intricacies and only placed the simplest win-loss bets. After all, he was just joining in for some fun.
The cuju field was quickly set up, close to Qixue’s gauze pavilion for easy viewing.
The field was enclosed in a rectangular shape with red silk and bamboo poles, also called the Polo Fort. At each end stood goalposts—more like tall bamboo poles about three zhang high, with round holes carved into the signs at the top, known as the Wind Flow Eye, which served as the goals. A cuju only scored by passing through the Wind Flow Eye.
The participating guests didn’t know each other well, so to distinguish teammates from opponents, they all tied on headbands matching their team’s color.
Wei Huai alone didn’t wear one. For one thing, everyone recognized his face; for another, his red robes already matched the team’s color. But the most crucial reason was that he found headbands ugly and didn’t want to ruin his handsome image in Qixue’s eyes.
Before the match began, Wei Huai adjusted his wrist guards and strode confidently to the gauze pavilion to chat with Qixue. “How many goals did you bet on me to score? However many you bet, that’s how many I’ll kick in. I guarantee you’ll win double back.”
“I didn’t bet on you.”
Qixue gave him a sidelong glance and gently fanned himself with a silk fan. “I bet on the White Team to win. If you lose the match, I’ll win money.”
Wei Huai chuckled lightly. “That’s truly a shame. I’ll have to make Your Ladyship lose money this time. Next round, you must bet on me—only betting on me will make you money.”
Qixue said, “You’re really boastful. Aren’t you afraid the wind will twist your tongue? Be careful, or you’ll lose so badly you can’t even redeem your undergarments.”
In truth, Qixue wasn’t against Wei Huai winning; it was just that seeing Wei Huai so full of himself made him unable to resist mocking him and taking the opposite stance.
Wei Huai laughed. “That’s fine too. I hope my undergarments end up in Your Ladyship’s hands.”
“Shameless!” Qixue fumed.
Wei Huai laughed heartily and left, entering the Polo Fort. With a rapid burst of drumbeats, the first cuju match began: Wei Huai’s Red Team versus the White Team.
The cuju ball was placed in the center of the Polo Fort, and the team captains were to scramble for it. Wei Huai was the Red Team’s captain. Though he and the White Team captain both stood before the ball, Wei Huai reacted lightning-fast, snatching it the instant the drums stopped.
Before anyone could react, Wei Huai charged through the White Team players with the ball. In a flash, he reached the goal and kicked it high with a resounding bang. The ball traced a sharp, powerful arc through the air and passed cleanly through the Wind Flow Eye.
In mere breaths, Wei Huai had powerfully claimed the first point. The guests stared in stunned silence, shocked by his prowess. Only when the ball fell and the teams scrambled again did they snap out of it, clapping and cheering loudly.
“G-Good! Amazing!”
“The Great General is mighty!”
Inside the gauze pavilion, Qixue suddenly sat up straight on the Noble Consort couch, forgetting to fan himself. Incredulously, he said to Dong Yuan, “That goal is so high—how did Wei Huai kick the cuju in so precisely?”
Dong Yuan smiled. “An ordinary person couldn’t, but the Great General is different. He’s hailed as Great Yong’s top cuju expert. He could score through the Wind Flow Eye blindfolded. Today’s match is nothing to him.”
“He really is… impressive.”
Qixue blinked, his gaze landing on Wei Huai. Even through the gauze curtain, Wei Huai’s red robes were so eye-catching, effortlessly drawing his attention.
In no time, Wei Huai scored again. The Red Team players barely ran anymore, just watching his solo performance. The White Team players panted like oxen but couldn’t stop him. Soon after the match started, they were routed.
Qixue lazily leaned back, leisurely watching. Seeing the scorekeeper add wooden tally plaques under the Red Team’s sign one after another, he felt quite pleased. Though he’d bet on the White Team, his heart was with Wei Huai. If Wei Huai lost, he might even be unhappy and give him a scolding.
The match ended with Wei Huai scoring eight points alone. The White Team left the Polo Fort dejectedly, while the Red Team crowded around him, hoisting him up and parading a circle around the fort amid cheers from all sides.
At that moment, Wei Huai was the center of attention, surrounded by admirers, but he had no such awareness. After half a turn, he jumped out of the Polo Fort and ran straight to the gauze pavilion to seek Qixue’s favor.
“How was that? Was I awesome? Did you like it?” Wei Huai asked with a grin.
Qixue huffed lightly, neither admitting nor denying. “Passable.”
Wei Huai smiled gently. “Did you lose money? All the prizes I won today are yours—enough to cover it.”
“No need. It wasn’t much.”
Qixue waved it off, then asked curiously, “Since you’re so good at cuju, why have I never seen you play in the army? Is cuju banned there?”
Wei Huai said casually, “No such ban. The soldiers play often; you just didn’t notice.
“As for me, first, as their general, my presence makes them hold back and not enjoy themselves fully. Second, I have no worthy opponents, so it’s boring. Today, I played for you—I wanted you to look at me in a new light.”
Qixue said nothing. Wei Huai had indeed been dashing and unparalleled on the field; he had been captivated, even a little moved. But he didn’t want Wei Huai to know, or the dog would get an inch and take a mile.
Wei Huai urged, “Your Ladyship, bet on me next match. Don’t make your lover sad.”
“Then tell me, why should I bet on you and make you happy?” Qixue said.
Wei Huai laughed. “It’s probably not that easy.”
“You get it,” Qixue said.
“Then I’ll change my request.” Wei Huai said, “If I win, can I ask for a prize from Your Ladyship?”
Qixue: “What prize?”
Wei Huai stared at him. “Please grant me a sip of rabbit milk.”
“I don’t have milk…” Qixue clutched his chest.
Wei Huai’s gaze drifted downward. “Actually, it’s not that there isn’t any—right there…”
Qixue paused, then realized what he meant. Flushing with shame and anger, he threw a fruit at Wei Huai. “In your dreams!”
Unfortunately, the gauze curtain blocked it, and the fruit fell to the ground. Seeing Qixue a bit angry but not truly upset, Wei Huai pinched his own arm hard, instantly bruising it purple. “Is this okay?”
Seeing him hurt himself so harshly softened Qixue. “You don’t need to do that.”
Wei Huai softened his expression. “I must. If I anger you again and you abandon me, how am I to live?”
Qixue, who always melted for gentleness but not force, grumbled, “If you win… I might consider it. But you might not win.”
Wei Huai’s eyes lit up. “Your Ladyship’s word is gold. This subject will give his all and not disappoint you.”
He turned and left at once to prepare for the next match. Seeing his sudden burst of energy, Qixue suddenly regretted it. Had he been too hasty in agreeing?
While they spoke, the other two teams’ match had also ended. Actually, the two matches ran simultaneously, but the Blue and Yellow Teams’ game was in a distant Polo Fort, drawing less attention. Qixue hadn’t even realized it had started.
Beforehand, most guests favored the Yellow Team, but surprisingly, the weaker Blue Team won—thanks to Ji Yuheng’s strategy.
When Ji Yuheng joined the Blue Team, he didn’t take captaincy at first. Instead, he asked everyone’s strengths and positions, quickly devising a reasonable formation and tactics.
The Blue Team wasn’t strong, but with proper arrangement, victory was possible. Since teammates didn’t know each other well, any flaw in the Yellow Team could be exploited—and they surely had one big enough to turn the tide.
Ji Yuheng explained the tactics to the team, earning unanimous approval. He already had great prestige, and they hadn’t expected such a refined gentleman to excel at cuju entertainment. They readily followed his lead, handing him command.
On the field, with Ji Yuheng’s precise dispatching, the Yellow Team’s strongest players were picked off one by one. Their already flawed formation crumbled into disarray.
The Yellow Team devolved into infighting, blaming each other. Near the end, they even fought outright, ending the match early. The Blue Team won big.
The Blue Team admired Ji Yuheng greatly. They also discovered his ball skills weren’t just brains—his form and technique were top-notch, the best among them.
For the second match, they made him captain, following his lead.
After an hour’s rest, the second match began: Blue Team versus Red Team.
Qixue hadn’t bet correctly on either match, but he wasn’t upset—instead, he found cuju more interesting. He finally emerged from the gauze pavilion to watch from the field’s edge.
The guests hurriedly yielded the best spot to Qixue. A soft chair was placed there, padded with silk beneath to keep his embroidered shoes dust-free.
Qixue lounged lazily on the chair, his beauty dazzling. His sleeve slipped slightly, revealing a glowing white forearm that left the nearby young men flustered, averting their eyes only to sneak glances back, their hearts aflutter.
Seeing their gawking, Wei Huai’s smile faded. Coolly, he said, “Clear everyone from around the Noble Consort. Don’t disturb Her Ladyship’s peace.”
The youths were chased off by the Zhu Huai Guards, slinking away dejectedly. Qixue glanced at Wei Huai, thinking him a jealous vat too—and rather cute. He teased, “Is the Great General ashamed of his aging looks compared to these fresh young masters, so he doesn’t dare look?”
“Your Ladyship is right.”
Wei Huai said expressionlessly, “This subject’s appearance is lowly and dare not compare to the young lords. I had to ask them to leave, lest I grow too heartbroken, ruin the match, and spoil Your Ladyship’s interest.”
“Fine.” Qixue shook his fan. “This palace pardons you.”
From their brief exchange, outsiders could sense their familiarity and closeness—especially Ji Yuheng, who knew of their past. His heart ached with loss and sourness, but he held back any lapse.
Wei Huai asked publicly, “Which team will Your Ladyship bet on this time? This subject’s Red Team, or Ji Shizi’s Blue Team?”
Ji Yuheng startled slightly and looked up at Qixue, eyes tinged with tension and hope.
He knew the Blue Team’s odds were low, and Qixue was closer to Wei Huai—logically, he’d bet Red. Still, he couldn’t help fantasizing that Qixue favored him and bet Blue.
“You ask which side I’ll bet on…”
Qixue looked at Ji Yuheng, then Wei Huai, and bloomed a beautiful smile. “I’m wearing ice-blue robes today—ice-blue is close to blue, so I’ll bet on the Blue Team to win.”
“Yun Qi, don’t disappoint me. You must beat the Great General for my sake.”
Ji Yuheng had not expected that Qixue would actually support him. He felt both surprised and delighted, lowering his head solemnly as he replied, “Please rest assured, Your Ladyship. Yun Qi will not disappoint Your Ladyship’s expectations.”
“……” A wisp of eerie green dark light flashed momentarily in Wei Huai’s pupils. He murmured softly to himself, “A Xue, why did you call him ‘Yun Qi’? Could it be that you’re very familiar with him?”
