Chapter 10 - The Secret Is Out
Xie Ruyun stood up and instructed her maid to take her clothes to the back for her to change.
Pei Xuan had been keeping an eye on the main pavilion. Seeing Xie Ruyun come out, she knew she was going to play and became extremely anxious, immediately chasing after her.
Down from the back of the transverse hall, a stone path led to the waterside pavilions, where the womenfolk often rested and changed their clothes.
Pei Xuan chased Xie Ruyun to a waterside pavilion and said hurriedly:
“Xie Ruyun, are you going to play?”
Xie Ruyun had already recognized her footsteps. She sat down and let her maid tie up her hair, looking straight ahead as she said in a cold voice:
“Why wouldn't I play?”
Pei Xuan came and sat down on the balustrade seat opposite her.
“If you are targeting the match I organized and insist on disrupting it, there is no need. Don't let the enmity between us involve my sister-in-law. Her birth is not good, and it's rare for her to have a chance to distinguish herself. Don't you steal her thunder.”
Xie Ruyun lifted her eyelids and looked at her coldly.
“What enmity is there between us?”
Pei Xuan's expression faltered. She said in a faint voice:
“There is no enmity between us. Is it just that I am jealous of you?”
Seeing the rare sight of Pei Xuan yielding, Xie Ruyun let out a sneer. She slowly waved her hand to dismiss the servants, then rose and came before Pei Xuan. Pei Xuan also stood up, meeting her aggressive gaze.
Xie Ruyun's gaze lingered on her cheek for a moment.
“Do you know where the difference between us lies?”
Pei Xuan did not speak.
Xie Ruyun walked around to her side, gazing at the glittering ripples on the water's surface.
“I dare to love and dare to hate. I do whatever I want. But you are different. You knew in your heart that the Li family are the current imperial relatives by marriage, the maternal clan of the Seventh Prince, and that the Pei family does not get involved in factional strife. The Pei family would not have permitted you to marry Linzhao. So back then, when His Majesty was selecting a spouse, you gave up straight away. Even to this day, you don't dare to let your family know that you gave up your own desires for the sake of the family's stability.”
Pei Xuan closed her eyes, took a slow breath, and looked at her with a frown.
“Even so, you cannot just recklessly go and ambush the delegation!”
Hearing this, Xie Ruyun suddenly spun around, a sharp glint in her eyes.
“How could I stop myself from striking? If not for that Prince of Nanning from Northern Yan instigating the allied forces of Northern Qi to advance south, how would Linzhao have died so tragically? And the Li family would not be in its current situation! How can I possibly swallow this anger?”
Every word she spoke was like weeping blood.
“I'm telling you, Pei Xuan, the Prince of Nanning's son is among this delegation. I am determined to kill him to satisfy my hatred and avenge Linzhao!”
Pei Xuan said angrily: “To kill the Prince of Nanning's son and provoke a conflict between two nations, do you think that is what Linzhao would want to see? Linzhao held the world in his heart. In all matters, he put the country and its people first. You must not go astray and, in turn, destroy the peace he traded his life for!”
This last sentence, with every word a pearl, was like a knife stabbing into Xie Ruyun's heart. She couldn't help but retreat several steps in a fluster, covering her face and weeping softly.
Seeing her like this, Pei Xuan also felt extremely pained. She took two steps forward, wanting to support her but holding back. She could only persuade her patiently,
“Ruyun, his spirit in heaven must be hoping to see you choose a fine husband and marry, to have someone to stay with until you are old. You must not make things so bitter for yourself.”
With that said, she made her purpose clear again.
“I still have a painting from Dongting's youth. Why don't I give it to you? You can present it to the princess, and as for today's matter, how about you don't get involved?”
Xie Ruyun wiped away her tears and said resolutely: “You know my temperament. I do not accept charity. I will win it back myself.”
Immediately after, she entered the inner room to go and change her clothes.
Seeing that she could not be persuaded, Pei Xuan could only exit the waterside pavilion, call a maid to go to the adjacent waterside chamber, and also emerge having changed into a set of close-fitting clothes. Since Xie Ruyun insisted on playing, she had no choice but to substitute Pei Yiyu and go have a direct contest of strength with her.
This polo match was played with fiery intensity, and news of it also spread to the imperial palace.
Pei Yue had been on duty last night and had not returned to the residence. Today, at mao shi san ke (around 6:45 AM), he, along with the several other Grand Secretaries, accompanied His Majesty in holding court at Wenzhao Hall.
The emperor of the Great Jin had changed the customs of the previous dynasty. Aside from the grand court sessions on the first and fifteenth of each month, the days of the new and full moons, at all other times, he only held small court sessions in Wenzhao Hall. Those with matters to report would present them, and those without would remain on duty in their respective government offices.
This abandoned the elaborate etiquette of the grand court sessions, saved time, and also increased the efficiency of governmental affairs.
When the small court session ended at si shi (9-11 AM), the several Grand Secretaries returned to their duty rooms to write their preliminary decisions. Before long, a palace eunuch came in from outside, bowed to the Grand Secretaries, and then said to Pei Yue,
“Lord Pei, just now an attendant from your residence came, saying that today, several noble ladies led by the Xiao family's young miss have invited your esteemed residence's Young Madam to play polo. Right now, the group is making a scene at the polo grounds in Chongbei Ward.”
Hearing this, Pei Yue's handsome brows furrowed slightly. He immediately guessed the circumstances. It must have been that Xiao girl provoking his new wife, and his new wife had rashly accepted the challenge. But why hadn't his mother and Second Sister sent any word? To silently allow that Mingyi to go and compete.
Pei Yue was not accustomed to engaging in pointless quarrels.
He said not a word.
Grand Secretary Wang in the main seat, however, smiled and said,
“I also heard about this matter last night. My granddaughter was called over by Vice Minister Qi's wife to go and support your family's daughter-in-law.”
Grand Secretary Cui opposite him also chimed in, “My little daughter is among them as well.”
Pei Yue let out a laugh, immediately stood up, and cupped his hands to the two of them.
“I have troubled your esteemed residences.”
While signing a document, Grand Secretary Cui smiled.
“Not at all. Just let the children have their fun. It's just that Dongting's new wife has only just arrived and probably has never seen such a spectacle. We're afraid she might be bullied.”
Grand Secretary Wang looked thoughtful. He stopped his brush and said to Pei Yue,
“Dongting, ah, in any case, these matters at hand are not urgent, and you have us here. Why don't you just go and take a look earlier, lest those little girls lose their sense of propriety.”
To put it plainly, they were still afraid that Li Mingyi would suffer a loss, which would in turn make Pei Yue lose face.
Pei Yue's gaze was grave: “Since it is just for fun, let them be.”
He was unwilling to show his face.
Seeing this, Grand Secretary Wang and Grand Secretary Cui exchanged a look, thinking to themselves that Pei Yue either disliked this new wife or was too principled, unwilling to neglect his public duties for private reasons.
Thinking more carefully, this had always been his temperament, so it seemed natural that he would not go.
The two of them did not try to persuade him further. Which of the memorials in their hands did not concern the major affairs of the state? No one had the time for idle chatter.
Half a shichen (one hour) later, all the urgent dispatches at hand had been processed. Pei Yue made a trip back to the Ministry of Revenue. As he was walking along the Thousand Pace Corridor, he suddenly stopped and glanced at the sky. It was almost high noon. The Great Jin's government district had a clear rule: officials who were on duty at night could return home to rest the following afternoon.
Pei Yue thought of Mingyi, and the image of her boldly asking for wine flashed through his mind. Observing her temperament, she didn't seem like the type to suffer in silence. At this moment, she was probably locked in a fight with the opposing team. What if she were to fall and get hurt?
In the end, it was he who had gotten her into this.
Forget it. Pei Yue turned and instructed the two subordinate officials behind him,
“Pingkang, you go back to the Grand Secretariat, take down my name plaque, and inform Grand Secretary Wang that I have gone home.”
“Liu Yi, you go to the Ministry of Revenue and move today's important documents to my carriage.”
With that said, Pei Yue tightened the cloak around his body and strode towards Zhengyang Gate.
……
Over at the polo grounds, both teams had undergone a major personnel change.
Pei Yiyu had been exhausted by the first half and very readily gave her position to Pei Xuan.
Seeing Xie Ruyun appear among the opposing team's players, Mingyi frowned.
On Xiao Xia's side, the position of lead attacker was given to Xie Ruyun, with Zhangsun Ling still guarding the goal. On the Pei family's side, however, there was a disagreement regarding the command. Wang Ruyu and Cui Xing clearly trusted Pei Xuan more, meaning they wanted Pei Xuan to be the main player.
Mingyi's tone was calm, yet it allowed no refusal: “I will command.”
For some reason, Pei Xuan saw in her a composure like that of the saying, ‘Let the winds blow from east, west, south, or north, I remain steadfast and unmoving.’ Such an aura should not appear on a country orphan girl, yet Mingyi truly gave her this feeling.
This match was, in essence, to display the character of the Pei family's Young Madam. Pei Xuan would not steal her thunder. She readily agreed, “Alright.”
Just as she was about to ask what supporting role she should play, Mingyi directly gave her an assignment.
“I must trouble Second Sister to guard the goal.”
Pei Xuan did not refuse.
Since even she was listening to Mingyi's command, the others had even less room to speak.
The whole team took the field.
At the very start of the second half, Xie Ruyun came on menacingly. Her momentum, like splitting bamboo, was no less than that of a vanguard general on the battlefield. The ball was in Mingyi's possession. She swung her mallet straight over, the shaft passing right by Mingyi's face. Mingyi was forced to lean back, her back pressed against the horse's spine. In that opening, the ball was taken away by Xie Ruyun.
The whole crowd cheered.
Mingyi let two plays go by.
Looking at the awe-inspiring Xie Ruyun, she nodded in admiration.
The opposing team scored a goal to catch up, their morale soaring, while her own side fell behind.
The reason Xie Ruyun had no record of defeat was that she relied on being 'ruthless'.
Mingyi had never played polo against Xie Ruyun and did not know she was so fierce.
She adjusted their tactics.
“Ninth Brother and Miss Cui, mark Xiao Xia. Miss Wang and Second Sister, pin down Zhangsun Ling.”
Wang Ruyu said in shock, “You'll take on three people by yourself?” And one of them was Xie Ruyun.
“Yes.”
On one hand, Mingyi felt they would be in the way; on the other, she was worried Xie Ruyun would injure them.
Pei Xuan said, “So no one is guarding the goal?”
Mingyi stared ahead, her expression calm: “I will not give them a chance to score.”
“......”
There was nothing more to say.
With the experience of the first half, everyone chose to trust Mingyi.
Mingyi drove the ball forward. The others also moved in succession, each marking their opponent. The moment Xie Ruyun saw this formation, she knew Mingyi's plan. She led the other two players to surround and block Mingyi.
Without teammates getting in her way, Mingyi executed a zigzag movement, shaking off the other two opponents. Unfortunately, Xie Ruyun's horse was far better than hers and quickly caught up to her heels, playing the same old trick.
This time, Mingyi did not give her the chance. She first flicked the polo ball high and forward, then immediately used her mallet to tangle with Xie Ruyun's. Her wrist spun so fast that Xie Ruyun was forced to pull back. Seizing this opening, Mingyi quickly urged her horse forward and, before the polo ball could hit the ground, she executed a backhand swing, sending the ball straight into the goal.
Zhangsun Ling could only watch helplessly as the polo ball flew past not far in front of him, tracing a very long arc into the goal.
She could shoot at the goal from so far away?
This Li Mingyi's ball control skills were extraordinary.
The score was tied.
The applause from off the field was like thunder.
The match resumed.
This time, it was Xie Ruyun with the ball.
And in the center of the opposing field, Mingyi sat upright on her horse, her polo mallet sweeping the ground, with the air of one person single-handedly guarding a pass.
Xie Ruyun paid her no mind. She directed the remaining two players to block Mingyi, while she herself charged straight for the opposite goal.
Just as Mingyi shook off the two players and was about to intercept Xie Ruyun, on the other end, Zhangsun Ling forcefully broke through the restraints of Wang Ruyu and Pei Xuan and rushed over to support Xie Ruyun.
And the two players who had been shaken off by Mingyi very cleverly went to meet Pei Xuan and Wang Ruyu, giving them no chance to assist Mingyi.
In this way, it became Mingyi against two opponents: the formidable Zhangsun Ling and Xie Ruyun.
Zhangsun Ling had been toyed with by Mingyi in the first half and was now summoning all his strength, wanting to vent his anger. His tall horse charged at full speed between Mingyi and Xie Ruyun, intending to force Mingyi aside and clear a path for Xie Ruyun.
But Mingyi did not play by convention. She did not dodge, but instead made a sharp turn, directing her horse's head towards the tail of Zhangsun Ling's horse. To maintain her balance, she half-hung from the horse's belly, held her mallet, and leaned forward to sweep, snatching the ball from Xie Ruyun. Her horse, from that sharp turn just now, whinnied shrilly and charged forward as if it had gone mad.
Xie Ruyun and Zhangsun Ling were astounded, but their reactions were also extremely fast. They immediately gave chase. Both of their horses were faster than Mingyi's, and they quickly blocked her path ahead. Who would have known that an incredible scene was about to happen.
Mingyi seemed to have anticipated that the two of them would come to intercept her. A step ahead, she flicked the polo ball high, then leaned back to lie on her horse's back and executed a spectacular backward shot. The polo ball, just before Zhangsun Ling and Xie Ruyun could close in, shot through the gap between them like an arrow leaving a bow, rushing towards the goal behind them.
What precise eyesight!
Without a doubt, they were now leading by one goal.
Now, the expressions on Xie Ruyun's and Zhangsun Ling's faces were very unpleasant.
Across the entire capital, those who could withstand an attack from either one of them could be counted on one hand, let alone being scored upon while the two of them were working together.
What was the background of this Li Mingyi?
There was only about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea left.
On Xiao Xia's side, she was almost about to cry from anxiety.
It was impossible to score two goals in this amount of time. The best possible result would be a draw.
Xie Ruyun took the ball.
She was very smart and saw through Mingyi's divide-and-conquer tactic. This time, all five of them advanced forward as a single unit, not giving Mingyi a chance to get near her.
Mingyi waited up ahead. Watching this Xie Ruyun, she asked Pei Xuan at her side:
“Has this Miss Xie studied the art of war?”
Pei Xuan gave a wry smile.
“She is the daughter of a civil official's residence, but because she was betrothed to Li Linzhao, she clutches a book on the art of war all day and can't put it down. It's probably a case of loving him and everything connected to him. She understands a little.”
Mingyi gave a helpless smile.
If she continued to play for real, it would inevitably arouse suspicion. Mingyi did not plan to make a move; her tactic was simply to 'drag' it out.
As long as she dragged it out until the end of the match, she would win.
She let the others go to block, while she alone guarded the goal, giving Xie Ruyun no chance to score. She watched them make a scene, calm and unperturbed.
From a distance, Xie Ruyun saw Li Mingyi's objective and asked Zhangsun Ling with annoyance,
“What is the background of this Young Madam Pei?”
Zhangsun Ling said: “I just asked around a bit. They say she's from the jianghu. That maid of hers is a martial artist. As for her herself, I can't gauge her abilities for the moment, but she definitely has some skills.”
Xie Ruyun nodded.
“If she's from the jianghu, then it's not strange. They have many unorthodox methods and don't play by the rules.”
She immediately gave a wry smile: “Does Pei Dongting know he married such a formidable wife?”
There was no time for them to chat idly. Xie Ruyun instructed Zhangsun Ling,
“Go and find a way to lure Li Mingyi away.”
Zhangsun Ling took the lead and broke away from the team, riding towards Mingyi.
Pei Xuan was no pushover either. The moment he left, the pressure on Pei Xuan lessened, and she quickly organized her teammates to surround Xie Ruyun.
Seeing Zhangsun Ling ride over, Mingyi leaned over her horse's back, put away her mallet, and watched him with a smile. She didn't move, and Zhangsun Ling couldn't very well make a move either. As a grown man, he couldn't get rough with a young lady. However, he had his methods. He steered his horse to slowly nudge Mingyi aside and picked a very good position. If Xie Ruyun was clever enough, she should shoot for the goal from his side.
The two of them were side by side, their horses touching. Their gazes fell in unison upon the field.
The match on the field had almost become a one-on-one.
That Xiao Xia was so anxious it was as if her eyebrows were on fire. Seeing Xie Ruyun tied up by Pei Xuan, she fiercely pulled on her reins, forced Cui Xing in front of her aside, and charged her horse towards Pei Xuan. Her speed was too fast, and she came straight for Pei Xuan's face. Pei Xuan's horse was startled and leaped back two steps. The jolt caused Pei Xuan to lose her grip on the reins.
Seeing that Pei Xuan was about to be thrown to the ground, Xie Ruyun, who was the closest, abandoned the polo ball and lunged forward. She didn't even think about why she was doing it, but her kind nature acted before her reason did.
Xie Ruyun caught Pei Xuan, preventing her from injuring the back of her head, and the two of them fell to the ground together.
But what was terrifying was that Pei Xuan's horse had shied away, leaving Xie Ruyun's lower body directly exposed in front of Xiao Xia's horse. The tall horse was about to trample down.
Mingyi's heart leaped into her throat. At the critical moment, she almost instinctively slapped the wrist of Zhangsun Ling beside her. A sleeve arrow shot out from under Zhangsun Ling's wrist, flying straight towards Xiao Xia's horse. It hit the horse squarely in its front belly. The horse whinnied in pain, reared its front hooves high, and threw Xiao Xia off before bolting to the side.
The crisis was averted.
Zhangsun Ling stared at his own wrist for a long time. The force of the impact still lingered, a wave of heat spreading across the back of his hand and his palm. The fact that he concealed an arrow mechanism under his wrist was a secret known to no more than three people. How did this Li Mingyi beside him know?
Mingyi, belatedly realizing what she had done, looked at her own unruly hand and felt a great urge to chop it off.
Unfortunately, it was already too late. The Zhangsun Ling beside her had already moved his gaze from his wrist to her face.