Xie Chichun - Chapter 21

At the beginning of the seventh month, the Emperor and Empress personally presided over a banquet held at the South Royal Garden, which also featured events such as horse racing, polo, and archery. Almost everyone connected to the imperial family attended the banquet, and noble households in the capital with titles were also invited. While the young men had the opportunity to showcase their skills, the young ladies were also welcome to join in the festivities.

The Hengguo Duke’s household, being a titled family and the maternal family of Consort Wan, was naturally on the guest list. Apart from Xie Hong, a fifteen-year-old who participated in the archery competition, the Xie sisters—Xie Jun, Xie Xuan, Xie Yue, and Xie Jiu—were also invited. They were accompanied by their grandmother, Lady Xie, to the South Royal Garden.

The scenery in July was different from the peak of summer. The South Royal Garden was lush with trees, and flags fluttered in the breeze. The Emperor’s arrival was a grand spectacle, with a three-zhang-high platform surrounded by guards, eunuchs, and palace maids. Numerous officials accompanied the Emperor, standing in rows according to their ranks. On the other side, the Empress led the procession, followed by two favored imperial consorts, princesses, noblewomen, and ladies with official titles.

As for Xie Jun, Xie Xuan, and the others, although they were invited, they did not have the privilege of watching from the high platform. Instead, they were seated on a viewing stand about one person high, built around the polo field. While they didn’t have the advantage of a commanding view, they were closer to the action. Sometimes, when the polo ball whizzed past, they could even hear the sound of the wind it carried.

The four Xie sisters and Han Caiyi sat together, surrounded by other young ladies from noble households whom Xie Xuan didn’t know well. She could hear them chattering:

“Look, that’s Prince Jin! Finally, we get to see him!”

“Prince Jin truly lives up to his reputation—such a fine figure of a man. It’s a pity he can’t join the polo match and has to stand on the sidelines. It seems a bit pitiful.”

“What’s the big deal? He’s a prince, after all. It wouldn’t be proper for him to run around on the field like everyone else.”

Another girl snorted, clearly disagreeing. “How is playing polo improper?” she said disdainfully. “You probably haven’t been here in previous years, have you? Everyone, including Prince Jin, takes part. Just wait—he’ll join the match later. And did you see Prince Qi’s son on the field? The one in blue? He’s the best player out there!”

At her words, an older girl chimed in, “Oh, right! The one he’s competing against—isn’t that the second son of the Jingning Marquis family? I heard he’s excellent in martial arts, but I didn’t expect him to be so good at polo too!”

“You mean the one who’s known for his ruthless methods in the Qingyi Guard?” another girl interjected. “My father has been in the Ministry of Justice for years, and even he finds it hard to believe how harsh he can be. Someone so handsome, yet so merciless when it comes to punishment! He’s completely different from the other noble sons in the Qingyi Guard.”

…

As the chatter continued, Xie Xuan couldn’t help but glance toward Han Jie on the field.

He had changed into polo attire, with a brocade belt around his waist and his hair secured under a cap, making him look even more dashing. As the descendant of a military family, though usually laid-back, he appeared particularly vigorous and agile when he put his mind to it. Now, as he rode across the field, his demeanor and skills made him stand out.

Xie Xuan turned to Han Caiyi and asked, “I never heard that Brother Jie liked playing polo before. How did he get so good?”

“He’s been practicing hard recently. He said the Emperor enjoys watching polo, so he wanted to improve. My mother was so annoyed she almost scolded him—why waste time on polo instead of focusing on military strategy and martial arts!” Han Caiyi said, puzzled.

Xie Xuan also found it strange. This version of Han Jie seemed to be taking a completely different path from his previous life. Perhaps the family jade pendant truly had some spiritual power, subtly altering things and turning a fierce descendant of a military family into a polo-loving nobleman.

In that case, she felt somewhat guilty toward the Han family.

Biting into a soft lotus cake with a hint of remorse, Xie Xuan looked back at the field just as Han Jie rode closer, his gaze fixed on her. Amid the fast-moving crowd, he skillfully guided his horse, yet his eyes seemed to pierce through everything, landing solely on Xie Xuan.

As if, in the midst of the bustling world and its fragrant luxuries, he could only see her.

The polo matches were divided into several rounds. After Han Jie and his group finished, a new set of players took the field. By the fourth round, even the usually frail Prince Jin had joined the game.

This round wasn’t as intense as the earlier ones, as most of the players were around thirteen years old, and aside from a few, their skills weren’t as polished. The young boys, being playful by nature, sometimes resorted to unconventional moves when pushed, adding a touch of amusement to the game.

By this point, the atmosphere had relaxed, and many people were mingling and chatting with acquaintances. After sitting for nearly two hours, Xie Xuan felt a bit tired and decided to stroll around with Han Caiyi. As they turned a corner, they saw a girl in luxurious attire waving and calling out, “Caiyi, Caiyi!”

“Someone’s calling you,” Xie Xuan said, pointing her out to Han Caiyi, who was looking around.

Han Caiyi glanced over and smiled. “That’s County Princess Chanyuan from the Kangjun Prince’s household, my cousin.”

County Princess Chanyuan appeared to be around thirteen years old. As a member of the royal family, her luxurious attire naturally outshone others.

Han Caiyi and Xie Xuan walked over to greet her. Han Caiyi asked, “Cousin, why aren’t you staying with Auntie the Princess Consort?”

“It’s too far over there to see anything clearly. It’s much better here,” County Princess Chanyuan replied. She stood by the edge of the polo field, leaning on the railing, her gaze sweeping behind Han Caiyi. She seemed a bit disappointed. “Isn’t Cousin Jie here?”

“He disappeared after finishing his match. Maybe he’s already gone back.”

“Oh… I didn’t see him at the Qingyi Guard either,” County Princess Chanyuan muttered. Then she noticed Xie Xuan. “And who is this young lady?”

“This is the sixth young lady of the Hengguo Duke’s household, Xie Xuan,” Han Caiyi introduced, though her eyes were still fixed on the field. Suddenly, she exclaimed, “Watch out!” She grabbed Xie Xuan with one hand and County Princess Chanyuan with the other, quickly pulling them down to crouch.

Xie Xuan was startled and instinctively looked toward the field. She saw that the polo ball had been struck off course and was hurtling toward them, followed by three or four riders, among whom she vaguely recognized Prince Jin.

A polo ball carried considerable force, and if it hit someone in the face, it could easily ruin their appearance.

As Xie Xuan nervously tried to avoid the ball, a nimble figure suddenly leaped out from the side. With a swift kick, he sent the ball flying back into the field.

Then, a mischievous-looking boy stood in front of Xie Xuan, teasing, “Still such a scaredy-cat, huh? Look how frightened you are!”

Xie Xuan, of course, remembered this boy—it was Tang Lingjun, the same boy who had scared them with a caterpillar on the Xie Embankment. He had just finished playing in the previous polo match and was still in his uniform. At thirteen, he was like a fresh, tender fruit in early summer, exuding a youthful charm.

Before Xie Xuan could thank him, several screams erupted from the polo field. She looked up and saw that, about five steps away, Prince Jin’s chestnut horse had reared up, neighing loudly as it threw him off its back. The riders behind him couldn’t stop in time, and one horse’s hooves grazed Prince Jin’s waist. The others quickly pulled on their reins to avoid him.

Amid gasps and exclamations, the field descended into chaos.

Guards stationed every dozen or so paces around the field immediately rushed forward when Prince Jin was injured.

Emperor Yuanjing, who was on the high platform, seemed to have noticed the commotion and sent several guards to investigate. The Empress, imperial consorts, and other noblewomen also crowded to the edge of the platform.

Soon, someone called for the imperial physician, and the guards carefully lifted the moaning Prince Jin, rushing him off the field.

Amid the sudden chaos, the young men and women in the viewing stands also surged forward, gathering in small groups to discuss the incident, their faces filled with anxiety. Although Prince Jin was known for his scholarly demeanor, he was still a beloved son of Emperor Yuanjing. His fall and subsequent trampling, though seemingly an accident on the polo field, inevitably sparked speculation.

County Princess Chanyuan, being particularly sensitive to such matters, left in a hurry without even saying goodbye.

Left behind were Xie Xuan, Han Caiyi, and Tang Lingjun. They watched as Prince Jin was carried away, and the rider who had trampled him, along with others nearby, were taken away by the guards. Each of them felt uneasy as they returned to their seats.

The polo match was abruptly halted. Prince Jin, having been trampled by a galloping horse, was undoubtedly seriously injured. Emperor Yuanjing, the Empress, and others went to assess his condition, and no one dared to continue the festivities. The crowd was dismissed.

On the way back to the mansion, Xie Jun and Xie Xuan shared one carriage, while Xie Yue and Xie Pei rode in another. As soon as they entered the mansion gates, before they could even switch to the smaller sedan chairs, Lady Xie hurried over and asked, “Who was nearby when Prince Jin had the accident?”

“Sixth Sister was right there, closest to the scene!” Xie Yue chimed in, eager to stir up trouble.

Lady Xie immediately turned to Xie Xuan and asked, “You were nearby? Did you see what happened?” Although Lady Xie was known for her unfairness and superstitions, her years as the matriarch of the Duke’s household had made her acutely aware of matters involving the royal family, especially since the Xie family had produced an imperial consort. Naturally, she was keen to stay informed.

Xie Xuan, however, showed no signs of panic. She calmly replied, “At the time, I was standing there talking with Caiyi and County Princess Chanyuan. When we saw the polo ball flying toward us, we quickly moved to avoid it. By the time we heard the commotion and looked over, Prince Jin was already surrounded by guards. I didn’t see what actually happened.”

“You didn’t see who trampled Prince Jin, or why the horse went out of control?” Lady Xie pressed.

Xie Xuan shook her head. “No, I didn’t see either of those things.” This wasn’t a lie. At the time, Xie Xuan had been startled by the flying polo ball, and when she saw Prince Jin being thrown off his horse, she was too distracted to notice anything else. What Lady Xie was asking about truly hadn’t registered.

Lady Xie finally let out a slight sigh of relief, though her brow remained furrowed. “Everyone else, go back to your rooms. Sixth Girl, come with me.”