Wei Huai’s voice was not loud, but in the entire arena, only he and Ji Yuheng could hear it. Yet it still made Ji Yuheng’s heartstrings tighten as he slightly clenched his hands hidden beneath his wide sleeves.
In truth, Ji Yuheng could not quite say whether he and Qixue were truly familiar with each other. If they were familiar, neither knew the other’s background or preferences. But if they were not, they had seen each other’s bodies bare—and Qixue had even touched his…
His thoughts were a tangled mess of emotions when Wei Huai suddenly turned to him. “Ji Shizi, why don’t you tell me? Are you and the Noble Consort very close?”
He sounded just like a husband interrogating his wife about her kept lover, his questioning tone utterly self-righteous. And Ji Yuheng had to answer his question.
Ji Yuheng frowned slightly, suddenly feeling deeply uncomfortable. Admittedly, Wei Huai and Qixue shared a closer relationship, but he was not Qixue’s husband. What right did he have to display such possessiveness or to drive away and question everyone around Qixue?
“I’m sorry, Great General. I don’t want to answer your question.”
His tone remained mild, but his attitude was firm. “I believe this is a private matter between the Noble Consort and me. It has nothing to do with you, Great General.”
“Nothing to do with me?”
Wei Huai chuckled as if he had heard an amusing joke. “Fine, if you don’t want to say, it doesn’t matter. Worst case, I’ll just test it out myself.”
With that, Wei Huai turned and walked toward the interior of Polo Fort. Ji Yuheng lingered in place for a moment before following, waiting for the steward to place the cuju ball in the center.
Soon, the members of the Blue Team and Red Team lined up in formation. With the heavy beat of drums, the match officially began.
Ji Yuheng and Wei Huai were the captains of their respective teams and were responsible for snatching the ball at the start. The instant the drums stopped, Ji Yuheng had not yet reacted when Wei Huai already seized the cuju and sped past him like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Wei Huai’s reactions and agility were simply too fast—inhumanly so. Ji Yuheng was startled and immediately turned to give chase. His own speed was extremely fast, but at that moment, everyone else seemed to still be sleepwalking. Only when Ji Yuheng dashed past did they snap awake and pursue.
Ji Yuheng chased the Wei Huai ahead of him while sternly reminding his teammates behind, “Heaven Character Formation.”
Before the match began, Ji Yuheng had devised four formations, codenamed with “Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow.” The Heaven Character Formation was primarily designed to counter Wei Huai. Most of the Red Team’s members were of average strength. As long as they could lock him down, the Blue Team had a chance to win with Ji Yuheng’s coordination.
To that end, Ji Yuheng had selected four teammates—including himself—to block Wei Huai.
Even so, the Blue Team’s odds of victory remained low. Not for any other reason, but because Wei Huai’s power was insurmountable. He was too extraordinary; even if an entire team swarmed him, it was hard to say if they could hold him back.
Thud—
The cuju passed through the Wind Flow Eye. The Red Team scored first. The Blue Team members stopped, panting, their faces showing difficulty. “The Great General runs too fast. Forget locking him down—we can’t even catch up.”
“It’s fine. Don’t lose heart. It’s just the beginning of the match.”
Ji Yuheng smiled reassuringly. “No one can compete with Wei Huai at kickoff. This point was always going to go to the Red Team—it was within our expectations.”
“But from now on, it’ll be different. Cuju is a team sport. The Great General can’t dominate alone forever, and our teamwork far surpasses the Red Team’s. Once we steal the ball, it’ll get much easier. Who wins is still up in the air. Let us all strive together.”
Beneath Ji Yuheng’s gentle tone lay a resolute determination to win. Inspired, the others quickly rallied. “Got it! We’ll follow Ji Shizi’s lead!”
“Even the Great General isn’t invincible… Well, he’s only won around seventy times. He skipped the other twenty-odd matches. Maybe if we hold out a bit longer, His Majesty will suddenly summon him?”
“Can’t you stop boosting the enemy’s morale and dampening our own? Can’t we just beat him fair and square?”
Everyone burst into laughter. Though they had lost a point, the heavy atmosphere lightened. Ji Yuheng’s cuju skills were inferior to Wei Huai’s, but his intellect and ability to inspire were exceptional.
After a brief exchange, the cuju was thrown back into the field from outside Polo Fort, landing right beside a Blue Team member. Without wasting a moment, he grabbed it and dashed toward the other side.
Wei Huai immediately gave chase, but Ji Yuheng naturally would not let him near the ball. He led several teammates to block Wei Huai’s path.
The four of them perfectly sealed off all directions of Wei Huai’s advance. Wei Huai raised an eyebrow, slowed his steps, and looked at Ji Yuheng. “Not bad. This is your idea?”
“Yes.” Ji Yuheng replied neither humbly nor arrogantly. “Winning with wisdom over force—that’s my strategy. If I’ve offended you, please forgive me, Great General.”
“No offense taken. I’m not that petty.”
Wei Huai smiled. “Just one thing: if I do anything offensive, don’t hold it against me.”
“We wouldn’t dare blame the Great General.” The teammates wiped their sweat.
Seeing himself completely boxed in, Wei Huai was in no rush. He simply stood still. Soon, the Blue Team’s other members capitalized on their synergy to score, tying the score at one to one.
The cuju re-entered the field and fell under Red Team control.
The moment his teammates secured the cuju and the blocking Blue Team members’ attention wavered, Wei Huai slipped through their blockade. No one even saw his form clearly as he ghosted through the human wall like a specter.
The Blue Team lost their lock on Wei Huai, and the Red Team quickly scored again.
The score climbed tensely. As Ji Yuheng grew more familiar with the Red Team opponents, his tactical setups became more precise and effective.
He did not just block Wei Huai; he observed the entire field, dominating the game. He orchestrated the whole Blue Team like a heavenly net, trapping the Red Team as prey within.
Only Wei Huai could break through this net, but even his fearsome abilities had limits. Ji Yuheng’s layouts were equally exquisitely terrifying.
Ji Yuheng turned the Red Team members into his marionettes, hindering Wei Huai. Under his design, they not only failed to help Wei Huai but became his burdens. Wei Huai fought more like one against thirty-one.
Eventually, Wei Huai’s expression grew serious. He simply ordered half his team to stop running and wait on the sidelines, easing his pressure. The Red Team soon scored again, tying the score.
As the cuju fell, thunderous applause and cheers erupted outside Polo Fort. The guests were exhilarated, nearly losing composure as they shouted and tossed gold, silver, and jewels onto the field.
“What a spectacle! The most exhilarating match I’ve ever seen!”
“Ji Shizi’s strategies are brilliant beyond compare.”
“Even if he can’t match the Great General’s peerless prowess! Great General is mighty!”
Qixue, watching from the sidelines, was thoroughly entertained. He shifted his posture and casually tossed a few gold beans. Curious, he asked Dong Yuan’s opinion. “Who do you think will win?”
Dong Yuan smiled. “I don’t know much about cuju, so I wouldn’t dare speculate.”
Qixue said, “Even if you know nothing, you’re still better than me. Just pick a side.”
Dong Yuan then replied, “In my view, the Red Team should win. Look, Noble Consort—the Blue Team is exhausted, but the Great General remains vigorous. They won’t be able to stop him now.”
Qixue peered closely and saw it was just as Dong Yuan said. All the Blue Team showed clear fatigue; only Ji Yuheng held up decently.
It showed Ji Yuheng’s stamina was superhuman—something Qixue had experienced firsthand. In the past, when he tormented Ji Yuheng every night, it lasted a long time. Anyone else would have passed out multiple times, but Ji Yuheng endured, sometimes even growing more spirited the rougher it got.
Qixue said, “You have a point. Let’s see if Ji Yuheng has any new tricks.”
But just as the match reached its fiercest point, Wei Huai abruptly abandoned the game and walked straight to Qixue. Wiping sweat from his face, he asked, “Have you changed your mind, Noble Consort? Are you betting on me or Ji Shizi?”
He did not use “Red Team” or “Blue Team,” but named himself and Ji Yuheng.
Qixue tilted his head. “Does it matter?”
“Very much.” Wei Huai said, “If you don’t favor me, even winning the match won’t make me happy. I just want to win the place in your heart.”
Qixue huffed lightly. “I only favor winners. If you lose, what use are you to me?”
He pulled a few gold beans from his pouch and tossed them at Wei Huai. “Your reward. You run fast—like a proper little dog of mine.”
Wei Huai caught the gold beans, a smile finally breaking across his face. “With those words from you, Noble Consort, it’s enough. I’ll definitely win the match. Please honor your promise with a reward then.”
“Gold beans aren’t enough?” Qixue eyed him.
“Of course not.”
Wei Huai stared directly at him, his gaze unmasked. “I’m very greedy. I want Great Yong’s most precious treasure. You’ll give it to me, won’t you, Noble Consort?”
“We’ll see.” Qixue glanced casually toward Polo Fort, his pale pink earlobes faintly reddening. “Look, the Blue Team just scored again. You’re about to lose—still talking rewards?”
Wei Huai smiled. “I’m heading back.”
He plunged back into the match, upending the situation the instant he entered. Amid the chaos, he seized a point. Less than half a tea’s worth of time remained until the end.
In the finale, both teams were spent. Only Ji Yuheng and Wei Huai still vied.
Ji Yuheng had no more strategies left. He relied purely on willpower to contest Wei Huai. At this point, he refused to disappoint Qixue’s expectations. He had to beat Wei Huai.
Wei Huai drove the cuju toward the goal. Ji Yuheng chased desperately, leaving everyone else far behind. Suddenly, Wei Huai spoke. “Did you see A Xue reward me earlier?”
Ji Yuheng had seen it and felt dejected then, but now he ignored Wei Huai’s words, dismissing them as psychological warfare to shake his resolve. He would not fall for it.
As if reading his mind, Wei Huai scoffed. “No need to worry. If I wanted to deal with you, I wouldn’t resort to dirty tricks. I just want you to know A Xue is mine. Give up on him sooner.”
Ji Yuheng’s gaze darkened. “The Noble Consort does not belong to you. He is His Majesty’s consort. Mind your words, Great General.”
Wei Huai laughed. “You tell me to mind my words but don’t deny your feelings for A Xue. So I was right—you like him.”
Ji Yuheng fell silent.
Wei Huai continued, “You’re not wrong; I can’t rival His Majesty. But when His Majesty isn’t around, A Xue is mine. It’s not your place to speak.”
“You say your private matters with A Xue have nothing to do with me? Dead wrong. I’m his dog, his one and only lover. If it were just unrequited love on your part, I wouldn’t care. But your mistake was getting close to him—making him smile at you, call you ‘Yun Qi’ so intimately…”
“A Xue’s heart is too soft, letting you harbor delusions.”
“You’re not qualified to be A Xue’s dog.”
Suddenly, Ji Yuheng felt a breeze pass before him. Wei Huai had reversed direction. Caught off guard, Ji Yuheng was shaken off. He watched helplessly as Wei Huai backflipped, hooking the cuju upside down into the air.
Wei Huai landed lightly, his foot solidly hitting the ground amid thunderous drums. The cuju pierced the Wind Flow Eye sharply. All three happened in the same instant, changing Ji Yuheng’s expression.
“Match over! Red Team wins!!”
The steward raised the final point high amid tsunami-like cheers. Victory slipping away, Ji Yuheng sank into profound dejection and pain, his face lost and desolate.
But it was not over.
With a thud, Ji Yuheng was punched to the ground, blood trickling from his mouth.
The Polo Fort fell instantly silent. Everyone stared in stunned silence as Wei Huai not only knocked Ji Yuheng down but viciously kicked him in the abdomen. In a cold voice, he declared, “Ji Yuheng showed disrespect to Noble Consort Qi. Men, take him away and throw him in jail to await punishment.”
The Zhu Huai Guards dragged Ji Yuheng away. The entire field was deathly quiet. In truth, no one had seen Ji Yuheng act disrespectfully toward Qixue in any way, but given Wei Huai’s overwhelming authority, no one dared speak up for him. Even his Blue Team teammates struggled inwardly for a moment before choosing silence, guiltily lowering their heads.
Only Qixue stood up, puzzled as he asked Wei Huai, “Where did he disrespect me?”
Wei Huai replied, “His words were disrespectful. He spewed all sorts of filthy slander about the Noble Consort. That’s a crime worthy of death.”
Qixue: “…”
If slandering him with filthy words was a crime, then Wei Huai deserved to be cut into pieces ten times over, yet here he was accusing Ji Yuheng.
“Don’t go too far,” Qixue reminded him in a low voice. “He’s the Shizi of the County Princess Mansion, after all.”
Ji Yuheng was a child of destiny; Qixue wasn’t worried about him at all. On the contrary, he was concerned that Wei Huai might suffer backlash, so this reminder was for Wei Huai’s own good.
“Don’t worry, I know my limits. I won’t hit him.”
Wei Huai chuckled softly, lowering his voice as he leaned close to Qixue’s ear. “So now, Your Ladyship, it’s time to honor your promise, isn’t it?”
The Zhu Huai Guards dragged Ji Yuheng away, but instead of to a jail cell, they took him to an empty room. They bound him up, stuffed his mouth, and tossed him under the bed.
Before throwing him under, they had pressed a cloth soaked in Mafei Powder over his mouth and nose, forcing him to inhale several breaths. As a result, Ji Yuheng’s entire body went limp; he couldn’t even move a finger. He barely retained his consciousness.
He lay in a daze under the bed, his breaths filled with the faint scent of dust, until footsteps approached, accompanied by a familiar voice.
“You’re in such a hurry. Did you have to do this at the banquet? We could have gone back to the palace…”
“The palace is full of His Majesty’s spies. It’s hard to keep things hidden. Doesn’t Your Ladyship fear His Majesty finding out?”
“You think His Majesty is like you? He’s good to me; he wouldn’t use a Nightmare Demon to spy on me. As for whether I’m afraid of him finding out, I’m not ashamed of it myself. But I don’t want him to be heartbroken and upset, so this is a one-time thing. No going all the way—you can only suck a little… milk. Do you understand?”
“Alright, everything as you say. Right here it is. Wait a moment; I’ll go bathe.”
Wei Huai pushed open the door to the room and led Qixue to sit on the bed. He leaned down and kissed him.
Qixue pushed him away. “You reek of sweat. Go wash up.”
“Alright.” Wei Huai smiled, glanced deeply at the gap under the bed, and turned to leave.
From under the bed, Ji Yuheng peered through the gap and saw the hem of Qixue’s ice-blue skirt. His face instantly drained of color.
