The polo field outside Yongan City’s west gate was personally supervised in its construction by Emperor Taikang. The emperor had once been obsessed with polo, and ordered people to find an auspicious site to build the grounds. But after only a year, foreign enemies invaded, the people were in misery, and all the officials urged the imperial clan to cut down on amusements, focus on the war effort, and soothe the people’s hearts. Though Emperor Taikang loved his sport, he had no wish to be remembered as a fallen-king ruler. The polo field was thus abandoned.
It wasn’t until Xing Muzheng returned victorious from defeating the enemy that Lord Yongjing petitioned to reopen it. By that time, Emperor Taikang’s mind was wholly absorbed in alchemy and he had no wish to reopen the grounds. But Prime Minister Hang advised that the young men of Xie Dynasty should spend more time in mounted games—not only to strengthen their bodies, but to improve their horsemanship. The emperor saw the sense of it, and with one grand wave of his hand, reopened the polo field.
Yongjing Marquis, Tan Wenzhi, had inherited his title from his forebears. The Xie Dynasty’s noble ranks—duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron—were awarded differently: dukedoms went to imperial clan members; for other meritorious subjects of non-royal blood, the title would come from the remaining four. Tan’s father had been granted a first-rank marquisate for saving the emperor’s life; by Tan Wenzhi’s generation, it had already dropped to an earldom.
When Emperor Taikang originally granted Xing Muzheng his title, he had intended it to be hereditary in perpetuity—meaning the rank of marquis would never diminish, no matter how many generations succeeded. Many ministers opposed it, fearing that since the Xing family already held a fief, a perpetual over-rank would make their power too great. The emperor had to relent, but privately assured Xing Muzheng that if the Xing family remained loyal for generations, he would see them honored for generations as well. That is a matter for another time.
Tan Wenzhi, unwilling to merely hold an inherited title without accomplishment, was eager to make a name for himself and win the emperor’s favor. Now that he had finally secured this assignment, he threw himself into it with all his strength.
Today’s match was a quarterfinal between ten teams—the winners of the two games would face off on the emperor’s birthday to decide the champion. It was meant as a gesture to honor the emperor’s long life. Unexpectedly, Emperor Taikang made a sudden decision to attend in person, bringing the entire court to watch. Tan Wenzhi was both startled and overjoyed, and had been buzzing with energy for days, practically living at the polo field.
Today he had invited many polo experts, hoping for their guidance. Hearing that Dingxi Marquis had arrived in Yongan, Tan Wenzhi, on a whim, sent lavish gifts and an invitation—partly to get closer to Xing Muzheng, and partly because he’d heard that Marquis Xing also encouraged polo among his soldiers, making them kindred spirits.
When word came back that the Xing household had accepted the gifts but declined the invitation, Tan thought the matter closed. Who knew the Marquis would actually show up, bringing his wife and child to watch? At that moment, Tan was directing servants to hurry and set up the awnings. When he heard they had arrived, he could hardly believe it. After triple-checking, he quickly straightened his robes and strode across the field. Passing a servant sprinkling water on the ground, he casually barked, “Blind dog! What are you dawdling for? If you dare to slack off or steal, watch out—I’ll break your dog legs!”
“Master.” His close attendant suddenly called to him softly.
Hearing this, Tan Wenzhi looked up and saw, at the entrance to the polo field, a richly dressed man and woman standing together, with a small child by their side who greatly resembled the man. The man wore an indigo robe, the woman a crimson one—but why… why were their faces filled with shock as they pointed at him? Tan Wenzhi had met Xing Muzheng once before, so he naturally recognized that the man in indigo was Dingxi Marquis. The woman beside him must be the marchioness. But why would she point at him so strangely? He was certain he had never met the marchioness before!
Full of puzzlement, Tan Wenzhi quickened his pace, just in time to see the marchioness suddenly clutch her chest, as if overcome with unbearable pain. Tan Wenzhi became even more at a loss. Stepping up to them, he greeted the Marquis and Marchioness with a smile, but before his words had even fallen, he heard the marchioness ask, “Marquis Yongjing, just what is that man using to water the ground?”
Tan Wenzhi looked up. The marchioness was pointing to somewhere behind him. Following the direction of her slender finger, he realized she meant the servant sprinkling the ground. It was probably because the marchioness had never seen such menial work before, hence the question. Tan Wenzhi relaxed and explained with a smile, “Madam Marquis may not know—when the horses run on the field, dust easily rises, so one must have it dampened beforehand.”
“I know,” Qian Jiaoniang’s fingers trembled twice. “But this fellow said he’s using oil to water the ground. Is that true?” Was it the same oil they used for food?
Tan Wenzhi froze for a moment, then smiled. “Indeed. I heard someone say that watering with oil holds down the dust even better than with water, so today I thought to give it a try.”
Qian Jiaoniang nearly fainted on the spot. She herself could barely afford oil—just one ladle of it could last her and Chou’er one or two months. But this Lord Yongjing was using it to water the ground? He wasn’t watering with oil, he was watering with pure silver! Feeling a sharp pain in her chest, Qian Jiaoniang earnestly said to Tan Wenzhi, “My lord, let’s make a deal—use water, not oil, all right? I’m afraid before I even get to watch the polo match, I’ll have already passed out.”
“Huh?” Tan Wenzhi was utterly confused.
Xing Muzheng spoke: “Marquis Yongjing, watering with oil is a bit extravagant. If you sprinkle water finely, it works just as well.”
Born into a Marquis household, Tan Wenzhi had lived in luxury all his life, and couldn’t quite grasp the meaning. “How so, Marquis? Oil isn’t some rare thing—how could it be extravagant?”
“Marquis, perhaps oil isn’t rare for you, but for common folk it is precious indeed. Many of them can’t even afford to eat oil.”
Tan Wenzhi was baffled. “Why eat oil? Wouldn’t eating meat be better?” Wait—was this oil meant for eating? He had never eaten it before!
Qian Jiaoniang stared at the innocent, curious face of Lord Yongjing, her hand itching to give him a slap. How was he so gifted at being born into the right family!
“Uncle,” Xing Pingchun piped up brightly, “oil is used for cooking! When you put oil in a dish, it smells wonderful! Even mice love oil!”
Marquis Yongjing nodded half in understanding. Smiling awkwardly, he said, “I only wanted to make the polo match perfect, and neglected such an important matter. I’ll have them change to water right away!” Though he didn’t truly care in his heart, his words came out in a hurry, and he immediately ordered a servant to switch to water.
Compared to this trivial matter, Tan Wenzhi was more concerned with Xing Muzheng’s thoughts on the layout of the polo field. He invited him to walk around together for a look, and summoned two maids to escort the marchioness to the wind-sheltering pavilion on the high platform to rest.
Xing Muzheng sent Yanluo, the three maids, and Ah Da, Wang Yong along with Qian Jiaoniang, while he kept Xing Pingchun by his side. Lord Yongjing couldn’t help glancing at Xing Pingchun a few more times. In the Xie family, it was always “carry the grandson, not the son.” His four sons usually stayed with their mothers, learning under a tutor, and he only saw them at morning and evening greetings. Not only him—most of the imperial kin and nobility in Yongan were like this. It was rare indeed to see someone like Xing Muzheng bringing his young child along everywhere.
Tan Wenzhi smiled. “One look at the young master, and you can tell he’s gifted—no wonder you always have him by your side.”
Hearing the praise, Xing Pingchun grinned, but then his father said, “Gifted is too much to say.”
Xing Pingchun instantly wilted.
“It’s just that I wasn’t by his side from the day he was born. Recently I’ve realized I haven’t fulfilled my duty as a father, so I’m merely making it up to him.” Xing Muzheng said it calmly.
Xing Pingchun suddenly looked up at his father, but Xing Muzheng didn’t return the gaze. He simply let Tan Wenzhi lead the way. Tan Wenzhi found he couldn’t quite understand what Xing Muzheng meant, so he simply smiled and gestured for him to proceed.
Meanwhile, Qian Jiaoniang, surrounded by attendants, made her way toward the high platform. Along the way, the maids were still discussing the matter of watering the ground with oil. Servants like them all came from poor families; they’d rarely even seen oil before. And now they had seen someone pour it out ladle after ladle on the ground—how could they not talk about it?
Hongjuan said, “Heavens above! They say Yongan City is full of lords, and today I’ve truly seen it. Never have I seen a person this extravagant—pouring oil over such a huge area!”
“Truly—stuffed to death on one side, starving to death on the other! Who could think up such a heaven-defying thing? Must be someone with nothing better to do after eating their fill!” Shanzha fumed.
Dongsheng added, “Exactly. Out there, common folk struggle just to get two meals a day. Only people with too much time and food would have such ideas.”
Qian Jiaoniang had been listening in silence, but suddenly turned her head sharply. “What did you just say?”
Dongsheng jumped in fright, unsure if she’d said something wrong. Stammering, she replied, “I… I said only people who are full and idle would think of such things…”
“And the sentence before that?”
“Uh… unlike the common folk outside, who spend the whole day… struggling for two meals?” Dongsheng said carefully, watching her mistress’s face. But after hearing this, the marchioness froze, standing motionless.
Yanluo, puzzled, called to her twice. After a long pause, Qian Jiaoniang moved again—but she laughed, shaking her head as she laughed, and the laughter only grew louder.
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