Chapter 17: Victory
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An unexpected confrontation drew every eye in the arena in an instant. The guests, who had been scattered throughout the seats—some whispering among themselves, others chatting and laughing softly—fell silent as one and turned their attention toward the polo field.
Xue Guanyu gently peeled a round, plump orange. Its golden flesh glistened enticingly in the sunlight. With a tender smile, he handed it to Shen Wei and asked casually, “When did A-He become so graceful and valiant on horseback?”
Shen Wei accepted the orange and clicked her tongue softly, her words filled with pride and affection for A-He. “My A-He excels at everything. How could she not?”
Xue Guanyu’s eyes filled with even greater tenderness. Smiling, he nodded in agreement, his tone carrying a hint of teasing and boundless indulgence. “Yes, yes. My wife is absolutely right. Every young lady of the Shen family is both talented and exceptional.”
Xiao Jingren’s gaze remained fixed on Shen He, astonishment stirring in his heart. When had this woman’s horsemanship improved so dramatically? She was becoming more and more intriguing.
He lightly pressed his heels against his horse’s flanks. Urged on by the whip, the steed shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, pursuing Shen He relentlessly. Shen Jiao was unwilling to fall behind either. With a delicate cry of “Giddyap!” she followed close behind, the thunder of hooves rising and falling as clouds of dust billowed into the air.
When Xiao Jingren drew level with Shen He, he subtly turned his wrist. With a deft flick of his polo mallet, he lifted the ball that was about to fall into the dust beneath Shen He’s mallet and sent it toward Shen Jiao.
Shen Jiao reacted with lightning speed. She brought her mallet down as the ball fell, completing the motion in one fluid stroke and sending it straight into the corner of the goal.
“What an extraordinary shot!”
The spectators outside the field erupted in cheers, their applause rolling like thunder.
“Brother Jingren is truly amazing!” Princess Anning cried excitedly, clapping her hands briskly, her eyes filled with admiration.
Xiao Jingren and Shen Jiao seemed to share one mind. One passed the ball, the other struck it into the goal. They exchanged smiles and high-fived in celebration, their understanding seeming almost instinctive.
“Look at those two. They’re practically made for each other. It’s enough to make anyone jealous.”
Whispers drifted through the crowd, tinged with envy and admiration.
“That’s true. But I remember people used to say that the Third Prince and the eldest daughter of the Shen family were the perfect pair.”
“Oh, you still don’t know about that? At the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, the eldest daughter of the Shen family publicly asked the Sixth Prince for permission to marry her. It caused quite a sensation.”
“The Sixth Prince?”
Shen He heard every one of those idle remarks. The corner of her mouth curved into a cold smile. Made for each other? Hah. More likely, this was merely the opening act of two villains conspiring together.
“Giddyap!”
Shen He suddenly clamped her legs against her horse’s flanks. Like a blazing crimson cloud tearing across the sky, she surged forward at such speed that Xue Yifei and the others could only watch her retreating figure, unable to ride alongside her.
In this contest against Shen Jiao and Xiao Jingren, Shen He seemed to pour all the grievances she had accumulated in her previous life into this small game of polo. Every time she swung her mallet, she gave it everything she had, determined to turn the resentment and indignation bottled up inside her into fierce gusts of wind across the field and release them all.
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“A-He, be careful!” Xue Yifei called from nearby, his eyes following Shen He’s figure. He was frantic with worry, yet could do little more than send his concern after her in words.
“I’m fine. I know what I’m doing.” Shen He’s voice was firm and beyond dispute. Every word seemed forced through clenched teeth, laden with defiance and stubborn resolve.
She would never lose to them again!
“Ah!”
A sudden scream, sharp and urgent, tore through the still air.
For some unknown reason, Princess Anning’s mount suddenly began to neigh wildly, flailing its hooves before bolting forward in a frenzy.
“Princess!”
Everyone cried out in alarm, their expressions changing drastically. The Grand Princess sprang to her feet, her eyes filled with anxiety and concern, calling out, “Anning!”
At that critical moment, Xue Yifei moved like an arrow released from a bow. He leapt into the air, seized Princess Anning’s slender wrist, and hauled her firmly onto his own horse. He then wrapped one arm around her waist to keep her from falling while his other hand swiftly and precisely caught the reins of the frightened animal.
His movements were practiced and decisive. After only a few motions, he had brought the wild horse firmly under control and subdued it completely.
When the steed finally settled, Xue Yifei’s eyes were filled with concern as he asked softly, “Princess, are you unharmed?”
Princess Anning was still shaken by the terrifying incident. Her face was pale as paper, and she managed to force out a faint smile. “I... I’m all right. Thank you.”
She slowly lifted her eyes. Xue Yifei’s extraordinarily handsome face came into view, and a subtle ripple passed through her heart as feelings quietly took root.
Elsewhere, Xiao Jingchen remained close behind Chen Suixin’s horse, never showing the slightest intention of competing with her. At times, he would even deliberately pass her the ball he had secured, as though in this game he were nothing more than a silent guide, laying the road before her.
Even the spectators watching from the sidelines noticed Xiao Jingchen’s unusual behavior. They began whispering among themselves, and a chorus of discussion soon arose.
At that moment, Shen He’s entire attention was fixed on Shen Jiao and Xiao Jingren. She followed them like a shadow, refusing to let them escape her sight.
Shen Jiao cast Xiao Jingren a subtle glance. No words were necessary; the two understood each other at once.
On horseback, they turned in perfect unison. One moved to the left, the other to the right, and together they formed two solid barriers, trapping Shen He between them so that she could not move an inch.
“Sister!” At this critical juncture, Xiao Jingchi came riding over at a gallop, his voice carrying a hint of anxiety and panic. “Sister, my horse seems to have lost its senses. It won’t obey me at all!”
As he spoke, Xiao Jingchi clutched the reins. He appeared to turn casually to one side, yet skillfully nudged his horse against Xiao Jingren’s. The sudden “obstacle” was quietly pushed aside, while he smoothly rode alongside Shen He, as though everything had happened by coincidence.
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Xiao Jingren shot Xiao Jingchi a furious glare, his eyes full of displeasure. Yet seeing him sitting astride his horse with such comical clumsiness only stoked the nameless fire in his chest. He simply turned away, unwilling to pay him any further attention.
Nearby, the mallet in Xiao Jingchi’s hand seemed to have become a headless fly, flailing about wildly. Yet by some miracle, he inadvertently intercepted the ball Shen Jiao had sent with such precision. Then, with a single swing, he sent it steadily into the hole, leaving everyone around him stunned.
From then on, whether it was Xiao Jingren’s carefully planned strategy or Shen Jiao’s artfully arranged traps, they were all utterly useless before Xiao Jingchi.
At times, his horse would suddenly seem to lose all sense and ignore his commands completely. At others, the mallet in his hand appeared to be guided by an invisible hand. He would swing it wildly, yet somehow manage to pass the ball perfectly to Shen He or produce another astonishing shot straight into the hole.
Xiao Jingren felt a suffocating frustration trapped in his chest. It was as though he had thrown a heavy punch only to strike a soft mass of cotton, leaving all his strength dissipated.
Shen He caught the flying golf ball securely. The moment she turned her gaze toward Xiao Jingren, a surging hatred seemed to fill her entire being, reaching into every limb and bone.
Without the slightest hesitation, she swung the mallet in her hands. Her movement carried a force born of absolute resolve. The ball seemed to bear all her resentment and fury as it carved a sharp trajectory through the air and sped straight toward Xiao Jingren.
The instant mallet met ball, a crisp and thunderous crack rang out, echoing through the air with startling harshness.
Xiao Jingren’s expression froze. He had never expected the hatred surging in Shen He’s eyes to be so fierce.
A cry of alarm rose in his heart. It had to be because of the unintentional intimacy he had shown Shen Jiao moments earlier. Shen He must have misunderstood.
The ball flew toward him like a falling star, arriving in the blink of an eye. At that critical instant, Xiao Jingchi suddenly swung the long mallet in his hands and called out with a hearty laugh, “Third Brother, watch this—the ball’s coming!”
His movements were effortless and dashing, the shadow of his mallet swift as wind. In the space of a heartbeat, he deftly intercepted the ball that had been heading straight for Xiao Jingren. Then he turned his wrist, and the ball seemed to come alive. Its trajectory changed abruptly, tracing an elegant arc before dropping directly into the hole.
With that, victory for Shen He’s team was certain, leaving no suspense whatsoever.
Nearly everyone on the field rose to their feet. Witnessing such an unbelievable victory, they erupted into thunderous applause that surged like a tide.
Shen Jiao’s eyes widened as she stared in disbelief at the fine horse beneath Shen He. Astonishment and horror filled her heart. How was this possible? She had clearly tampered with Shen He’s horse. Why was it completely unharmed now?
Suddenly, Shen Jiao’s gaze fell upon Princess Anning nearby. In a flash of insight, she understood. Shen He must have secretly switched the horses back.
At that moment, Shen Jiao met Shen He’s eyes, which shone with the radiance of victory. Fury surged through her. She angrily hurled her mallet to the ground with a sharp crack, then stormed away, sweeping off with all her resentment and unwillingness.
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