Chapter 9
On that pivotal day, Emperor Yuanqing threw open the gates to welcome the victorious soldiers into the capital, drawing a crowd of officials and noblewomen. At the heart of it all was the topic everyone was buzzing aboutâCao Xun, a man of power and renown, who, despite his high status, remained stubbornly unmarried. Yunzhu wasnât the only one eager to get closer to him, to witness firsthand the commanding presence of the Great Imperial Uncle.
But of course, Cao Xun wasnât the type to mingle with just anyone. He stuck to his inner circleâmilitary officials and family, and that was about it. Unlike the carefree young men who spent their days in idle escapades through the mountains, it was nearly impossible for women to break into his world.
Emperor Yuanqing was also deeply frustrated with Cao Xunâs reluctance to settle down.
That day, while visiting Kunning Palace and sharing a meal with Empress Cao, he couldnât hold back anymore. âHave you come across any suitable young ladies since your return to the capital?â
Empress Cao was caught in a bind.
Her mother had just arrived in the palace and had been secretly lamenting a fallout with Cao Xun. Empress Cao blamed her mother for sticking her nose in the Dukeâs Palace affairs, earning a sharp reprimand from Cao Xun. But she also feared the growing tension between Cao Xun and her half-sister.
While the Crown Prince was still a child, Empress Cao relied heavily on Cao Xunâs support. Despite her younger brother Cao Shaoâs remarkable abilities, he was still a newcomer with no influence in court.
Suppressing her worries, she managed a smile and told Emperor Yuanqing, âIâve heard from my mother that several young ladies have visited our home, but thereâs a noticeable difference between men and women, and my brother hasnât shown up yet.â
Emperor Yuanqing saw through her words, understanding the complications.
Young men sought out the garden to meet ladies, but Cao Xun, nearing thirty, had no time for such trivialities. Still, the Emperor was desperate to see him settle down and expressed his frustration with Cao Xunâs reluctance to take the lead in securing a match.
Empress Cao offered a suggestion, âYour Majesty, are you familiar with the polo grounds in the west of the city?â
Emperor Yuanqing replied, âI am. Iâve heard young nobles gather there for sports during their free time.â
Empress Cao nodded, âThatâs true, but more importantly, ladies who are confined to the palace enjoy attending the games to watch.â
On the surface, it was just a sporting event, but in reality, it served as a perfect opportunity for ladies to assess potential suitors from prominent families.
Emperor Yuanqing grasped the underlying meaning and gave a thoughtful nod.
Under his influence, word spread like wildfire across the capital that the returning soldiers, led by Cao Xun, would be competing in a heated polo match against the soldiers stationed in Beijing, commanded by Li Yao, in the western part of the city.
Rumors flew that all the soldiers on both sides were under thirty and still unmarried.
Emperor Yuanqing was about to issue a decree summoning all the ladies to gather and witness the match. With twenty military officers on both teams, surely there would be a suitable match for one of them!
*
The competition was scheduled for March 20, on the officials' damn holiday.
At the crack of dawn, Yunzhuâs family gathered in the Zhenghe Hall.
Li Yao was the last to arrive, having spent half an hour perfecting his shots. His hair was still damp from the shower, and his bronzed skin radiated a raw, unwavering confidence.
Meng's eyes, soft yet troubled, betrayed a touch of inner turmoil. With his towering presence and god-like aura, what woman in her right mind would dare to marry him?
Seeing his eldest son, Li Yong was always reminded of the old man. Thankfully, the old man had only drilled into him the importance of military discipline, never once forbidding him from stepping onto the battlefield.
"Brother, how do you think we stand today?" Yunzhu asked, concern coloring her voice as she sat beside him.
Li Yao replied bluntly, "Ninety percent."
He almost said 100%, but the fear of being seen as arrogant by his father held him back.
Yunzhu chuckled. No matter the challenge, her brother always exuded that unshakable, borderline cocky confidence.
Li Xian couldnât resist adding, "Poloâs a team sport, brother. Focus on the whole, not just yourself."
Li Yao smiled, affectionately ruffling his brotherâs hair, though his eyes made it clear he wasnât really paying attention.
"Father, Mother, are you joining us?" Yunzhu asked.
"Weâll pass on the youthful antics," they responded, their voices carrying an air of indifference.
The polo field sprawled ahead, but with so few pavilions for spectators, all the officials and their wives chose to stay home, allowing the ladies more space to shine at the event.
After the meal, Li Yao led his younger siblings out.
The two brothers rode, while Yunzhu took the carriage.
As they rode westward, the road thickened with carriages and horses. By the time they reached the polo field, the street was jammed, the carriages blocking their path.
Yunzhu peered out of the window, seeing a gathering of men and women draped in silks, chatting and laughing as the carriages crept along.
Li Yao muttered, "Iâll go give them a nudge."
Yunzhu stopped him cold, "Donât cause trouble."
With the familyâs reputation already on the line, she knew well that her brother's fiery temper could easily stir up unnecessary conflict.
But she couldn't bear the delay any longer. She stepped out of the carriage, signaling for her brother to come closer. "Iâll ride with you. Letâs move ahead."
The alley was tight with vehicles, but there was still enough space for pedestrians and riders to pass.
Without a second thought, the military attachéâs daughter swung up onto her brotherâs horse, and Li Yao complied without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Worried for his sisterâs safety, Li Xian dismounted and positioned himself between the horse and the carriage, ready to step in if anything went wrong.
Just as Yunzhu was about to tease her brother for his overprotectiveness, someone approached from behind on horseback, startling her.
She straightened, her gaze locked on something that caught her eye.
Cao Xun smiled, clearly noticing her prolonged stare.
It was a deliberate gesture, one of indulgence, as if an elder tolerating a juniorâs curious gaze.
Yunzhu quickly averted her eyes, as if his smile had instantly lost its appeal.
Li Xian noticed that his sister seemed to dismiss Cao Shao entirely, barely acknowledging him with a brief nod before looking away and never returning her gaze.
*
Before long, a group of people stormed to the front.
Yunzhu didnât bother jumping down directly, the height of the horse's back being too much for her to risk losing sight of everything. She stayed up there, unflinching.
Li Yao commanded his sister to grip the saddle. He swung his legs to the front, dismounted, and effortlessly hoisted her down. In his strong arms, Yunzhu still looked delicate, her stature making every woman around her seem inferior.
"Welcome, heir, and Your Eminence, the Duke!" Eunuch Ma shouted, throwing himself into the greeting, barely hiding his enthusiasm.
Truthfully, with the clout of Duke Ningguo's mansion and Duke Dingguo's Palace, Eunuch Ma was leaning towards Cao Xun. But Li Yao exuded a power that made him quake. He knew better than to provoke him.
It was clear now who had arrived: Cao Xun and his younger brother Cao Shao, with the elder, Cao Xun, taking the lead.
It didnât take long for both of them to notice Yunzhu.
Under the piercing spring sun, Yunzhu was an absolute spectacle. Her double-petaled begonia flowers in her hair and the begonia-pink skirt swishing in the breeze made her look like she had stepped out of a painting.
Amid the packed, lumbering wooden carts, she was the begonia blooming from a craggy stone wallâimpossible to miss.
Cao Xun's gaze followed her skirt up to her eyes, his interest obvious.
That was when Yunzhu made the connection.
Unlike the bashful young ladies who might blush at the sight of a handsome stranger, Yunzhu barely flinched. She sized up Cao Xunâs features for a moment, then casually flicked her gaze to his brother, Cao Shao, before disregarding both. She swung herself onto the saddle Cao Xun had vacated, clasping her hands around her brotherâs waist to keep herself steady.
Her actions wouldâve had any proper family reeling in disapproval, but Yunzhu simply shook her feet under her skirt and flashed a grin. "Alright, brother, letâs go."
Li Yao gave a curt nod, urged his horse forward, and moved on.
From her perch, Yunzhu couldâve chosen to look back or to the other side. But with the opposite side crowded with household carriages, she turned her attention behind her.
Li Xian trailed Li Yao, with Cao Xun following right behind them.
At fourteen, Li Xian was tall but still lean and awkward, not quite grown into his frame, so his presence couldnât fully block out Cao Xunâs imposing figure.
Yunzhuâs eyes lingered on Cao Xunâs build, noting how his long legs commanded the stirrups and the strength in his grip on the reins, her gaze moving upward.
She acted uninterested, but anyone with eyes could tell where her attention truly was.
Cao Xun smiled, clearly aware of her gaze, acknowledging her with an amused grin.
He knew exactly what she was up to, indulging her curious, almost insolent behavior like an elder humoring a younger sibling.
Yunzhu turned away without a second thought, as though his smile had bored her.
Li Xian caught onto his sisterâs slight "disdain" for Cao Shao. Aside from acknowledging Cao Xun with a nod, she couldnât be bothered to look back even once.
Before long, a group of individuals arrived at the front.
Yunzhu stayed seated, unwilling to jump down and risk losing sight of what was happening. She remained poised on the horse, unwavering.
Li Yao snapped his sister to attention, telling her to hold onto the saddle as he dismounted. With a powerful motion, he lifted her off the horse as if she weighed nothing. Despite being carried like a fragile thing in her brotherâs strong arms, Yunzhu still seemed too graceful for this world.
"Welcome, heir, and Your Eminence, the Duke!" Eunuch Ma called out with all the zeal of a man trying to avoid disaster.
While he had personal inclinations to favor Cao Xun, Eunuch Ma feared the wrath of Li Yao. His only choice was to keep his mouth shut and bow his head.
Li Yao nodded before turning to Cao Xun, firmly stating, "The alley was too cramped for any proper salute. I hope youâll let it slide."
Cao Xun responded without hesitation, "Ningguo's Heir, youâre welcome," before his eyes shifted to Yunzhu and Li Xian.
Li Yao, with a matter-of-fact tone, introduced them, "This is my younger sister, Li Yunzhu, and my younger brother, Li Xian," as if Cao Xun had no clue who they were.
Li Xian, with a deliberate gesture, cupped his fists and bowed sharply, saying, "Itâs an honor to meet the Duke," while Yunzhu gave a minimal bow.
Cao Xun smiled thinly and observed, "When I left Beijing, you both were just kids, and Li Xian wasnât even around. Now, look at you twoâgrown up in the blink of an eye."
Li Yao suspected Cao Xun was fishing for the title of "uncle," but he couldnât bring himself to say it, especially with Cao Shao looming nearby.
With a casual air, Li Yao remarked, "Indeed, time doesnât slow down. Now that the Dukeâs carved out a name for himself, itâs about time he settles down."
Yunzhu, amused by her brotherâs words, looked up at Cao Xun and added, "My brother can be a bit of an idiot. Donât take him seriously."
Cao Xun, unruffled, replied, "Itâs fine. I can see Iâm getting older compared to you."
Yunzhu, keen-eyed, noticed a flash of condescension in Cao Xun's eyesâa look that, to her, seemed oddly flattering.
Meanwhile, Cao Shao stayed close to his brother, his gaze never straying far from Yunzhu. He noticed how she disregarded him completely, yet still showed a lack of respect for his elder brother.
Once they had distanced themselves from the Li siblings, Cao Shao sheepishly confessed to his brother, "Brother, Yunzhu wasnât disrespecting you. She was upset with you because of me."
Cao Xun raised an eyebrow, surprised, "Really? I had no idea she was upset." Cao Shao clarified, "She admires the generals at the border. With your military reputation, if we werenât brothers, sheâd probably hold you in high regard."
Cao Xun gave a dismissive smile, "Such things are irrelevant. Your path is already set, so why should I care how a young girl sees me?"
At that, Cao Shaoâs bitterness resurfaced.
*
Cao Xun and Li Yao went off to change into their game gear, while Li Xian stuck with his sister, guiding her to the viewing pavilion.
The Sun siblings, Sun Yurong and Sun Guangfu, had arrived early, waiting impatiently beneath the star observation tower, standing tall and sharp in the middle.
Yunzhu couldnât help but notice, as she caught sight of them, that Sun Guangfu had shed a significant amount of weight since their last meeting, now looking like an average man rather than the inflated image he once had.
"Yunzhu, it's been ages!" Sun Guangfu called out, addressing her with a grin.
Yunzhu wasnât in the mood for small talk. She nudged her brother aside and ushered Sun Yurong up the stairs toward the west side of the tower.
Sun Guangfu attempted to sneak a few looks at her, but Li Xian wasnât having it. He pulled him away without hesitation.
Sun Yurong sighed, turning to Yunzhu. "If you donât marry him, my brother will never let you go."
Yunzhu was puzzled. Why were men so relentless? She wasnât exactly stunning, and she had never paid much attention to esteemed young men like Cao Xun.
Looking toward the north side of Qingfeng Pavilion, Yunzhu spoke up, âArenât you worried all the good seats will be snatched up if we wait down here?â
She had realized that the ladies in attendance werenât just from noble families. But with Cao Xun present, she figured the women from civil servant families would abandon their usual restraint in an instant.
Sun Yurong chuckled, clearly amused. âYouâll see once weâre up there.â
Yunzhu wasnât so sure, but something told her Sun Yurong had a plan.
As they reached the top, Yunzhu saw the scene unfold. The four pavilions for the female guests were filling up fast. The Qingfeng Pavilion was already packed with familiar faces from the Xungui family, while the ladies from high-ranking civil servant families, led by Gu Min, granddaughter of Chief Fu Gu, dominated the Guihe Pavilion next door.
With a look of satisfaction, Sun Yurong pointed to the two handkerchiefs neatly placed on the main seat of Qingfeng Pavilion and proudly declared, âI left those there to reserve the seats. I also told a maid to keep watch. Do you think a dignified lady like Gu Min would stoop so low as to fight for a seat with me?â
Yunzhu raised an eyebrow. âSo, you're admitting you're shameless?â
Sun Yurong shot back with a grin, âI'm thick-skinned. You are too. Weâre cut from the same cloth.â
Not engaging in any more banter, Yunzhu settled into the seat on the left.
Sun Yurong slid into the seat next to her, taking a glance at the Guihe Pavilion. âXie Wenying is clearly from a prestigious family. If she doesn't want to join us, let her go find Gu Min.â
Yunzhu responded coolly, âSisters arenât defined by status, but by character.â
Sun Yurong wasnât having it. âThe Marquis of Changxing and Duke Dingguo are brothers-in-arms, do you honestly think the Marquis would ever agree to a match for his daughter with someone like Duke Dingguo?â
Yunzhu's heart fluttered involuntarily as she stole another glance at Xie Wenying in the nearby pavilion.
Xie Wenying, supposedly seventeen, had long been the subject of suitors due to her fatherâs reputation at the border. Yet, the Xie family hadnât arranged her marriage yet. Considering her beauty and her background, it was no wonder she had high expectations.
As though sensing Yunzhuâs gaze, Xie Wenying turned her attention toward her.
Yunzhu quickly averted her eyes, lost in thought. If the Marquis of Changxing did have marriage plans, would Cao Xun ever agree to that?
In the Guihe Pavilion, one lady whispered, âThe engagement is off, and yet she still dares to show her face?â
Another lady responded, âWell, her brother Li Yao is competing today.â
âI heard Cao Xun will be participating too. Maybe she hasnât given up hope just yet.â
Gu Min overheard the conversation and shot the two women a disapproving look, silently reminding them to mind their manners.
She was known for her grace, never one to gossip or speak ill of others. The two ladies, realizing their mistake, quickly quieted down.
The game was about to begin. Li Yaoâs team wore vibrant red robes, while Cao Xunâs team sported sleek black attire.
The sound of thundering hooves filled the air as the horses tore across the field, the constant threat of collision and the risk of being trampled making the audience hold their breath in anticipation.
Yunzhu leaned against the guardrail, side by side with Sun Yurong, their eyes locked onto the field with a steely determination.
As always, Li Yao charged after the ball with reckless abandon, ignoring any sense of teamwork or coordination. His bravery was undeniably impressive, far surpassing most privileged young men, yet today, he faced no ordinary opponents. The Cao Xun brothers, alongside eight seasoned military attaches, stood in his way.
Fearless in the face of blades and arrows, what in hell could scare them now?
Yunzhu's grip on the guardrail tightened, her gaze fixed on Cao Xun as he effortlessly orchestrated the movements of Cao Shao and his team, surrounding Li Yao like a pack of ravenous wolves.
Li Yao had possession of the ball, but he was alone, with no support in sight.
Undeterred, he charged towards the goal, the ball firmly in his grasp.
Three black-clad military attaches surged forward, blocking Li Yao in perfect synchronization, sending the wooden ball soaring toward the northern viewing platform like a bolt of lightning.
In a flash, Li Yao broke free from the three, his mallet raised high, intent on reclaiming the ball.
Cao Xun and Cao Shao pursued, flanking him on either side, their horses galloping as one.
Li Yao shot a cold, piercing look at Cao Shao.
Once his brother-in-law, Cao Shao now only stirred feelings of guilt. And with Yunzhu in sight ahead, Cao Shao hesitated, distracted, losing ground to the others in an instant.
As they neared Qingfeng Pavilion, within three feet of the wall, Cao Xun struck the ball first, with Li Yao close behind, pushing it forward before it rolled to a stop against the wall beneath the pavilion.
No one was backing down. Not Cao Xun, not Li Yao.
The pounding hooves of the horses shook the earth, sending soil flying as they closed in on the wall with relentless force. Sun Yurong screamed, clutching her face, unable to watch the impending disaster.
But Yunzhuâshe stayed, eyes fixed on the unfolding chaos.
She couldn't crack the mystery of Cao Xun, but she knew her brother's stubborn audacity. She never wanted him to fight for victory in this brutal game, and now, as the horses came barreling towards the stone wall, neither rider made a move to slow down. At the last second, Yunzhu gripped the guardrail, calling out, "Brother!"
At the sound of her voice, Li Yao acted on instinct, pulling his horse to the side.
Cao Xun's horse, momentarily thrown off course, slowed beneath the pavilion.
Yunzhu watched as Cao Xun smoothly passed the ball to Cao Shao, all the while his left hand tightening the reins. His black stallion, a beast of power, reared up, its front hooves raised as if defying the heavens.
Cao Xun held his position, maintaining the raised hooves for a brief moment before turning his head to meet Yunzhu's gaze. There was a smug smile on his lips, his features undeniably handsome, yet there was an air of arrogance that made him seem untouchable.
Before Yunzhu could fully absorb the scene, the horseâs hooves slammed back to the earth. Cao Xun took a few measured steps back and spoke to Li Yao, who stood nearby, "I concede."
Li Yao glanced at his sister in the pavilion, frustration in his eyes.
Yunzhuâs voice rang out, firm and unapologetic, "Iâm not worried about my brother."
Li Yao glanced at the stone wall, understanding the unspoken truth. Like Cao Xun, no one truly feared for him.
âââ
Author's Note:
Li Yao: âDamn, the old man wasnât kidding. Iâm convinced!â
Cao Xun:â¦