My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 658: The Match (Part 2)

Old Madam Gu quietly commented, "They played really well. This child takes after her father."

Qin Yuan clapped enthusiastically from the side.

On the field, there was another dragon-like figure—Brother Ximen. As the opponents all clung to Gu Baoshu, he found an opportunity and scored a goal.

"Great goal!"

The Ninth Princess jumped up, clapping her hands in cheer.

"Ahem," Empress Lin reminded.

The Ninth Princess quickly adjusted her hairpin, sat down gracefully, and offered a fruit to the Empress Dowager with affection, "Grandmother, try this fruit. It’s delicious."

The drums and cymbals sounded on the Hong Team’s side.

"A great start for the Hong Team! One victory!"

Fu Ya Nei pounded the ground with his fists, "How could this happen! How could this happen!"

Hua Bi hurriedly consoled, "Don’t be agitated, sir. It was just a coincidence. We were all focused on that kid and overlooked others seizing the chance."

"Right," Fu Ya Nei clenched his fists and shouted to the sky, "It was just a coincidence. Let’s go again, brothers."

This time, they split into two groups, one to surround and block Gu Baoshu, and the other to intercept Brother Ximen.

Gu Baoshu ran around the field with the ball as if it was glued to his boots. The flying blue hairband and his jet-black hair caught the eyes of the young ladies.

The Ninth Princess bit her finger, whispering, "So handsome, truly so handsome."

Judging by this young man’s age and stature, he seemed about the same age as herself. If she had such a young lord by her side to accompany her for outings and cuju, what joy it would be.

"Go, find out the background of this young man."

The palace maid beside the Ninth Princess flattered, "Yes, it’s like his ancestors’ graves are emitting green smoke; he’s actually caught the Princess’s favor."

"Quickly go, stop being sly, and be quiet so you don’t disturb my mother."

Brother Ximen adeptly shook off his opponents and stood at the best spot to score, shouting, "Qi Gu, kick the ball to me."

Gu Baoshu flipped around for a back kick, colliding with the closely pursuing opponents. The ball flew towards the position occupied by Ximen. Just as it was about to land, Ximen, offside, headed it. The ball, at a tricky angle, bypassed the goalkeeper and plunged fiercely into the net.

"Hong Team, two victories!"

The music played again.

The field erupted with screams, making it hard to discern whose name they were shouting.

Fu Ya Nei again wailed, "How can this be? How can this be!"

Hua Bi, dejected, said, "Didn’t expect this new aid to be so strong. We thought if we just hindered that kid, we could win so easily. Misjudged, misjudged. Where on earth did they find this person?"

"Stop spouting nonsense, find a way to take one down, or we’ll be utterly disgraced today!" Fu Ya Nei shouted fiercely.

The others, worn out from chasing Gu Baoshu all over the field, said, "Let’s rest first; we’ll discuss it after."

"Alright!" Fu Ya Nei raised a sign, signaling the referee for a halftime break.

The referee struck the copper gong twice and announced, "Fu’s team requests a break, the match is temporarily paused for rest."

Gu Baoshu coughed, disdainfully looking at Fu Ya Nei with a wicked grin, provoking Fu Ya Nei so that his hair stood on end.

Qin Heng quietly came over and said, "Well done, the people from the Ninth Princess’s side are inquiring about you."

As he spoke, he nudged Gu Baoshu’s shoulder with his own, chuckling mischievously.

Gu Baoshu couldn’t help but burst into laughter as well.

Meanwhile, Brother Ximen was swarmed by Black-skinned Brother Xiao Hong and others, with words of admiration coming like an endless stream of water. Susu, sent by Li Xingshou, circled outside, unable to squeeze in at all.

Seeing this, Li Xingshou played the flute on the high platform; the clear flute sound rang out, gradually calming the surroundings. Brother Ximen paused to listen closely and whistled in response.

Fu Ya Nei watched with growing resentment but could do nothing.

Hua Bi tried to persuade him, "Sir, these two are quite skillful. By themselves, Hong’s team is no match for us, but these two are a challenge. Maybe we should just play seriously."

"...Right, right," chimed in another Hua Bi, "Even if we lost, we’d still be second best, and that’s not a small reward."

Fu Ya Nei fumed, dark aura seething off of him.

The words of the two Hua Bi displeased him.

But the disparity in skill was evident.

Everyone offered their opinions, but no good ideas emerged.

Fu Ya Nei glared at their opponents, nostrils flaring as if they could spit fire and smoke: "You’re right, no matter what, we at least have second place. But I can’t stand this grudge today."

"Then let’s give our all to take down that guy Qi. At least we won’t have him stepping over us after this."

This suggestion suited Fu Ya Nei’s taste, and he nodded, "Do just that. Use your skills, and I’ll handle the rest. I won’t take my prize; you guys can split it. Plus, I’ll add fifty taels of silver."

Generous rewards inspire courage.

The Hua Bi men, full of fighting spirit, returned to the field targeting only Gu Baoshu. Often Gu Baoshu had to pass the ball to others to deal with the relentless tackles and tackles.

With no one obstructing, Brother Ximen, of course, scored goal after goal without hesitation.

In the first half, the Hong Team won without suspense.

The audience outside the field booed.

The Ninth Princess was so furious that her teeth itched: "What’s going on, a good game targeting a single young man, is this wrestling or sumo? This isn’t soccer."

The Empress Dowager laughed, "That young man is indeed good-looking; he seems to be someone who practices martial arts, and not bad at it either."

The Emperor turned to ask Gu Jinghui, "That kid has good skills, how does he compare to you, my dear minister?"

Gu Jinghui couldn’t help but laugh, "He can hold his own for a few moves."

The Emperor laughed heartily, "If my dear minister were on the field, these people would probably be knocked out by now."

Gu Jinghui shook his head, "I dare not, I dare not. In the military, we often use cuju and polo for training. The field is not the battlefield; there are rules to follow in sports."

The Crown Prince drearily interjected, "Now they’re all crowding around a single young man in a scuffle, and it’s not even a bit entertaining."

The Emperor, doting on his son, immediately instructed Old Wang, "Send someone to tell the referee that if this continues, there’s no need to compete."

Old Wang complied and left.

Before the start of the second half, the referee announced new rules and gave a stern warning to Fu’s team members.

Fu Ya Nei lost all his fighting spirit.

They were out of breath like bulls, not even scratching the opponents, yet incurring the Holy Emperor’s displeasure.

But not competing wasn’t an option either.

Suddenly, Hua Bi had an idea: "We’re not as good as them in skills, but there’s something we can outshine them."

Fu Ya Nei’s eyes lit up, "What is it?"

Hua Bi flexed his sturdy arms, "Sir, you forget easily. All along our route, who hasn’t admired our tattoos?"

Fu Ya Nei thought for a moment, it was indeed a solution; might as well treat a dead horse as if it’s alive.

"Alright, let’s go with that."

So they took off their outer clothes on the pretext of being too hot from running, baring their tattooed torsos, immediately eliciting screams from the crowd.

This screaming bolstered Fu Ya Nei and his companions to enter the field with their heads held high and chest puffed out arrogantly.