"Perhaps she can win," Shangguan Jin said slowly. "Does Young Master Wen not wish for Miss Xiao to win?"
"Of course, I wish for Man'er to win," Wen Mohan's gaze fell on Xiao Man. Her serious profile was exceptionally captivating, making it impossible for him to look away. "But I don't want her to win, lest her popularity become too great."
"It's just a game of polo, how could it lead to excessive popularity?" Shangguan Jin said with a smile. "But Prince Qin is known as the God of War, victorious in all battles. I wonder if polo is also one of his unfailing victories."
"Victorious in all battles?" Wen Mohan snorted coldly. He was an undefeated general on the battlefield, but in the capital, that was not necessarily true. He would never yield.
Even though the weather was cold, after a strenuous chase, Xiao Man began to sweat, but her heart felt incredibly exhilarated. "Your Highness Prince Qin, I must win this match, no matter what."
"I cannot lose this match, no matter what," Nangong Yu said with a smile. He was enjoying this polo match immensely. How long had it been since he had played polo with such spirit? After all, few were his match.
The referee glanced at the scores on both sides, then at the nearly burnt-out incense stick. This final goal would determine the winner!
The others were no longer able to participate. On the field, only Xiao Man and Nangong Yu remained to decide the victor. The crowd below speculated who would score the goal, Prince Qin or Xiao Man!
Suddenly, Xiao Man's horse was startled, rearing its hooves high. Xiao Man on its back swayed and was about to fall to the ground, causing everyone to gasp in alarm. To everyone's surprise, Xiao Man hooked the reins with her feet, inverted herself, struck the polo ball, and soared back onto the horse's back. The ball was heading for the goal.
If this goal was scored, it meant Xiao Man had won. At this moment, Nangong Yu appeared before the goal, struck the polo ball with his mallet, and sent it spinning into the sky, disappearing from sight. The incense had also burnt out, and time was up!
"A draw."
Xiao Man was extremely annoyed. It was a draw. "If it's a draw, how will the spoils of war be divided?"
"How about another round?" someone suggested.
"I can't. I'm exhausted," Nangong Yi collapsed on the ground. To play another round, they would need to bring in new players.
"How about this: I will offer another spoil of war, and you each take one. How does that sound?"
"I want the jade pendant."
"I want the jade pendant."
Xiao Man and Nangong Yu said in unison.
"This... there is only one jade pendant. I am not sure..." Madam Chen Guo Gong looked troubled. "Miss Xiao, the spoil of war I am adding is a golden hairpin. His Highness Prince Qin has no use for it. Perhaps, this jade pendant can be given to His Highness Prince Qin?"
"No, I must have that jade pendant," Xiao Man insisted stubbornly.
"This Prince also has no intention of backing down." Everyone watched the two still locked in a standoff. Was Prince Qin challenging the General's manor?
"Why don't you two compete again?" someone suggested. "How about a game of Tou Hu?"
"Let's compete in archery," Prince Chu said at this moment. "My fourth brother is a general on the battlefield, and archery is fundamental. Miss Xiao is a disciple of a great general, so her archery must also be excellent. You will compete in archery. Ten arrows each, whoever hits the bullseye more times wins, and the winner takes the jade pendant. What do you say?"
"Agreed."
Seeing that both had agreed, Madam Chen Guo Gong immediately ordered targets and bows and arrows to be prepared.
Xiao Man and Nangong Yu simultaneously mounted their horses. They spurred their steeds forward, drew their bows, and aimed at the targets. As soon as Xiao Man shot her arrow, Nangong Yu's arrow followed closely, striking Xiao Man's arrow and embedding itself in the bullseye.
Xiao Man glanced back at Nangong Yu. "A challenge. You brought this upon yourself!"
Xiao Man drew her bow and nocked another arrow. This time, she didn't aim at the bullseye but at Nangong Yu. The crowd below watched in shock. Was Xiao Man mad to dare shoot at Prince Qin?
Nangong Yu's expression remained unchanged. He watched Xiao Man calmly, wanting to see how far Xiao Man would go for Wen Mohan. He neither dodged nor flinched, allowing Xiao Man's arrow to speed towards him.
Xiao Man's arrow flew past Nangong Yu's ear and embedded itself in the target behind him. The crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief. It was a close call, and indeed, Xiao Man was still the same arrogant and overbearing Xiao Man, daring to contend with Prince Qin!
Nangong Yu's expression was unchanged. He drew his bow and fired three arrows in rapid succession, aimed directly at Xiao Man. Xiao Man leaped into the air, stomped on one arrow, and then shot down the other two. Prince Qin's three arrows all missed their mark.
"A few days ago, Xiao Man encountered assassins, and Prince Qin even saved her. How are these two at odds today?"
"Ungrateful! His Highness Prince Qin shouldn't have saved her that day. She should have been killed by the assassins!" a woman who admired Prince Qin said viciously.
"I heard that it was Young Master Wen, the Prime Minister, who took the blow for Xiao Man," people chattered. "Do you think Xiao Man likes Young Master Wen?"
"Her? Is she worthy? Rude and unmannome. Arrogant and overbearing, and she even dares to attack His Highness Prince Qin. She deserves to die alone."
The crowd below was uniformly cursing Xiao Man. Xiao Man paid them no mind. Since Prince Qin had shot down her arrows, she naturally wouldn't let Prince Qin hit the bullseye. Now she had more arrows in hand than Prince Qin, giving her an advantage, but she dared not be careless. She shot an arrow backward at her own target. Nangong Yu, however, calmly drew his bow and arrow, pierced Xiao Man's incoming arrow, and embedded it in the target.
Xiao Man gritted her teeth and shot several more arrows. To prevent Prince Qin from shooting down her arrows, Xiao Man shot an arrow backward at Prince Qin's arm. Unexpectedly, Nangong Yu neither dodged nor flinched. He shot down Xiao Man's arrow, while Xiao Man's arrow, aimed at Prince Qin, wounded Nangong Yu!
"Heavens!" The entire venue erupted in uproar. Madam Chen Guo Gong's face turned ashen. "Xiao Man, how dare you!"
Nangong Yu raised his hand to stop Madam Chen Guo Gong. He glanced at his bleeding arm and looked up at Xiao Man. "You lost."
"You... why didn't you dodge?"
Nangong Yu spurred his horse forward, facing Xiao Man. Bitterness welled up in his heart. It was just a game, for a worthless jade pendant. Simply because Wen Mohan wanted it, Xiao Man had unhesitatingly wounded him.
"I just wanted to see how far you would go for him. Now I know." Nangong Yu's tone was calm, like an ancient well. For some reason, Xiao Man felt that Nangong Yu seemed very angry.
"You could have dodged."
Nangong Yu's lips curved into a bitter smile.
When he rode back, Nangong Yu took the jade pendant from the attendant and crushed it into powder. He looked at Wen Mohan and said, "What this Prince wants, he will obtain. Even if it is something this Prince does not want, he would rather destroy it than give it to others."
Wen Mohan clenched his fists beneath his long sleeves, his knuckles turning white. Nangong Yu was showing off to him. Even if he didn't like the jade pendant, he wouldn't let Wen Mohan have it!