After ten days or so, the polo field was indeed completed. Though Xing Pingchun had written insisting they wait until his return to hold the grand ceremony, his parents—both of one mind—chose to disregard the boy’s wish, picking an auspicious day for the inauguration.
The auspicious hour was in the afternoon. After lunch, Qian Jiaoniang led the womenfolk into a carriage, accompanying Xing Muzheng to the polo field. Qian Liniang, meanwhile, was also heading there with the Sun family. A thought stirred in Qian Jiaoniang’s heart; she lifted the curtain and said to Ah Da, riding alongside: “Ah Da, please ask your lord to come here. I need to speak with him.”
Ah Da answered, sending a guard ahead to invite him.
Not long after, Qian Jiaoniang’s carriage halted. Yanluo and Hongjuan, accompanying her, tactfully got down. Xing Muzheng bent his tall frame to enter, plopping himself down beside Qian Jiaoniang, his back to her, saying: “Take a look at my neck—why does it always feel prickly?”
Qian Jiaoniang straightened up, peering into his collar. “I don’t see anything.”
“Put your hand in and feel.” Xing Muzheng twisted uncomfortably.
Qian Jiaoniang complied, sliding two fingers inside, probing left and right. Careful though she was, her fingertips still brushed against his hot skin. Her breathing grew slightly uneven. She didn’t find a thorn, but instead her fingers traced over a scar. Pulling his collar open for a closer look, she saw a thin red mark on his right shoulder, fresh in color, looking like a new wound. Qian Jiaoniang asked: “My lord, while out, did you get into a fight again?”
“No fight—how could there be so many blind fools rushing to throw their lives at me every day?”
“Then how is it that there’s a wound on the back of Lord Marquis’s neck, looks like a cat scratch…” Qian Jiaoniang’s words cut off abruptly. In her mind suddenly flashed a few scenes: last night, when Xing Muzheng tried a different way, going at it fiercely, she lost control and seemed to… scratch him.
Qian Jiaoniang’s face instantly burned hot enough to cook an egg.
“…Oh.” Xing Muzheng seemed to understand what it was about too. He gave a faint “oh,” sounding as though with a hint of amusement. He turned toward her; Qian Jiaoniang turned her head away, lifted the carriage curtain and fanned herself with her hand. “It’s not even June yet, why is it so hot!”
Xing Muzheng let out another soft laugh, leaned close to her ear. “Those cat claws of yours are that sharp, even scratched me into a wound? Remarkable.”
Qian Jiaoniang’s cheeks flushed so red they nearly bled, but she still forced herself to pretend she hadn’t heard, looking fixedly at the scenery outside.
“Go back and trim your nails,” Xing Muzheng paused, “it hurts.”
That word hurts was spoken so pitifully, yet with a shade of teasing, making Qian Jiaoniang feel ashamed and guilty all at once. Only after a while did she murmur back like a kitten’s mew.
Seeing her shy and embarrassed like that, Xing Muzheng added, “Tonight, take a good look for me again—my back might be ruined already.”
Qian Jiaoniang finally burst out in mortified anger, turning to beat him with her fists. Xing Muzheng laughed heartily, pulling her into his arms. “All right, enough, stop fussing. You called someone to fetch me, what is it you wanted?”
How had it turned into her fussing again? If he hadn’t gone so wild, would she have scratched him? Now he was playing the injured party after taking advantage! Qian Jiaoniang, cheeks blazing, pushed him away. Xing Muzheng pulled her back in again, chuckling low, and asked once more. Only then did Qian Jiaoniang speak of her real business: “Today my second sister and brother-in-law will also be at the polo ground. After the ceremony, could Lord Marquis take a moment to meet them?”
Xing Muzheng looked at her. Qian Jiaoniang quickly added, “If Lord Marquis is unwilling…”
“They’re our own kin. Since you acknowledge them, of course I must meet them,” Xing Muzheng said. “It was my oversight.”
Hearing his agreement, Qian Jiaoniang smiled faintly. “Then I must thank Lord Marquis.”
“No need to thank me,” Xing Muzheng replied.
Qian Jiaoniang neither confirmed nor denied, only said, “I’ve nothing else—Lord Marquis may go about his business.”
But Xing Muzheng said, “What’s the hurry? I still have something for you.”
Qian Jiaoniang blinked. “What matter Lord Marquis?”
Xing Muzheng said slowly, “There will be two polo matches later. The whole city can come watch. Would you like to take your women’s troop and play a match yourselves?”
Qian Jiaoniang widened her eyes. “We go down and compete?”
“What, you don’t dare?” Xing Muzheng narrowed his eyes.
“What’s there I don’t dare? It’s my opponents who won’t dare.” Qian Jiaoniang lifted her chin.
Xing Muzheng gave a low laugh. Yes—this woman usually kept quiet, but in truth she was wild. He pinched her chin. “Good then. I built this polo ground partly for you and our son to play, and also for the people of Yuzhou to learn polo, to learn horsemanship. Polo was always for nobles and soldiers—commoners rarely play, and in Yuzhou it’s rarer still.”
Qian Jiaoniang leaned back, trying again to escape his embrace, and failed again. “Why does Lord Marquis want the common people to learn polo? Ordinary households don’t even have horses.”
Xing Muzheng caught her hand and slowly kneaded it. “I want every household to raise horses. If they wish to, the government will even provide subsidies.”
“Lord Marquis wants all the people of Yuzhou to know how to ride?” Qian Jiaoniang tugged her hand but couldn’t free it, finally giving up.
“Riding has many benefits,” Xing Muzheng said. “Good for all ages, men and women alike. If enemies invade, women too can ride fast and escape.”
Qian Jiaoniang thought for a moment. “What Lord Marquis says isn’t without reason.” Though raising horses wasn’t as economical as cattle or mules, if the yamen gave subsidies, it was not impossible. And if common women could learn to ride, that was truly a good thing. But could it really be that Xing Muzheng wanted every household to keep horses for only such simple reasons?
“So you, the Marchioness, must set an example. Let them all see your skill.”
Qian Jiaoniang laughed. “What skill do I have? Only just learned, I can barely swing the mallet.”
“You belittle yourself. I’ve seen you play decently enough these days. It’s only rare for you to go on the field. Why not today—you choose some women, I’ll pick some of my brothers, we’ll form mixed teams of men and women. What do you say?”
“That would be good,” Qian Jiaoniang said. “The brothers have experience, so we won’t disgrace ourselves on the field. But… will Lord Marquis play?”
Xing Muzheng’s lips curved. “It’s not good for me to play.”
Qian Jiaoniang remembered the skill he’d displayed in Yongan, and silently nodded. Yes, if he played, it would be unfair.
Xing Muzheng paused, rubbing her fingertip. “But if I see you’re about to lose, I’ll get on the field to help you.”
Qian Jiaoniang suppressed a small smile, answering calmly, “I won’t lose.”
Look at her, Xing Muzheng thought, the more he looked the fonder he felt. He tilted his head, kissing the corner of her eye. Her lashes trembled, tickling his lips. He followed down, capturing her red lips.
“What are you doing again, this is in the carriage!” Qian Jiaoniang pushed at him, words muffled.
“Don’t worry, I’ll just kiss, nothing more,” Xing Muzheng held her face, speaking as he kissed.
Nothing more, indeed! Qian Jiaoniang fumed—in her mind was the thought of all the people outside. Just the idea of the curtain being blown up by wind and someone seeing made her heart jump wildly. But Xing Muzheng feared nothing, kissing her hard, deeper and deeper, as if he did intend more. Qian Jiaoniang grew both shy and angry. Just then, the carriage jolted, Xing Muzheng’s teeth bit into her lower lip, drawing blood. He quickly apologized, but Qian Jiaoniang wasn’t really in pain—yet touching the blood infuriated her. “I was uninjured before, but now the moment I step out of the carriage, with my lips like this, won’t everyone know what wicked thing was done!”
Xing Muzheng said, “I’ll lick it for you—it’ll be fine.”
“Xing Muzheng, get out this instant!”
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