If It Weren't for Yuanyuan...
On the sixteenth day of the third month in the fourteenth year of the Zhengshi era, the Marquis Lin'an's Mansion held a polo match.
Jiang Xuesui, having received the invitation, originally didn't want to go because her foot hadn't fully healed. But one of the prizes for this polo match was a glazed revolving lantern bearing a painting by Chengxin Pavilion's Master.
Chengxin Pavilion's Master was the pseudonym of Jiang Xuesui's mother, Wen Xincheng.
Her mother had achieved fame at a young age; at eleven, she earned the title "Painting Immortal" with her painting "Kunlun Wonderland," and was best known for depicting deities, ghosts, and spirits.
The glazed revolving lantern in this polo match was originally one of a pair. The two lanterns had twelve panels in total, each painted with a zodiac deity.
This pair of lanterns had once been a gift from her mother to the wife of Grand Secretary Shen of the previous dynasty. Later, Grand Secretary Shen was convicted, his family executed and property confiscated, and the lanterns were lost.
Since they were her mother's relics, Jiang Xuesui was determined to win them at the polo match.
Before departure, Wen Yuan'ai, who shared a carriage with Jiang Xuesui, was surprised to see her younger cousin wearing light and agile riding clothes for the first time. "Yuanyuan, don't you want your foot? If you play polo like this, you could easily reinjure your ankle."
Jiang Xuesui explained the reason.
Unable to persuade her, Wen Yuan'ai secretly instructed a servant to report the matter to Wen Qiao. She and Jiang Xuesui left first, hoping Wen Qiao would come to the polo match and talk Jiang Xuesui out of playing.
Arriving at the Xie family's polo field, the ladies gathered in the luxurious tent to drink spring tea and enjoy various pastries and fruits.
The prize for the first round was that glazed revolving lantern.
Seeing Jiang Xuesui already picking up her polo mallet and preparing to fetch her horse, Wen Yuan'ai grew extremely anxious. A Qiao wouldn't not come, would he?
Her mother and two aunts had tried to dissuade Yuanyuan from playing, but Yuanyuan insisted, and there was nothing they could do.
"Elder Sister, this round requires two men and two women per team. I've found Xiao Lin. Can you join us? We still need another man," Jiang Xuesui said, suppressing the pain in her ankle, approaching Wen Yuan'ai.
Wen Yuan'ai: "I can play, but where do we find a suitable man on short notice?" She hoped Yuanyuan would back out due to the lack of players.
Jiang Xuesui: "If we can't find anyone, we could ask one of our cousins to join."
Today's attendees, Wen Yu, Wen Yang, Wen Xiao, and Wen Yu, all had poor equestrian skills.
Wen Yuanjia and Wen Yuanxi, hearing this, bravely ran to the tent where the young men were gathered and called out, "Our elder sister and younger cousin need one more man for the first polo round. Is there any gentleman who can help?"
The young men eagerly volunteered.
Wen Yuanjia and Wen Yuanxi were overwhelmed with choices.
In the young ladies' tent, a stir arose. Someone said, "The Eldest Young Master Wen has arrived," and immediately the tent was filled with waving sleeves and chirping voices.
Jiang Xuesui's eyes twitched at the sight. This was spring for young men and women.
Wen Qiao was unpopular among his siblings at home, but the ladies outside regarded him as a handsome suitor, each wanting to be his match.
The lady who actually bore the surname Xie was adjusting her hair and makeup, also throwing her vine ball at Wen Qiao.
The servants following Wen Qiao picked up the vine balls, flustered.
Xuanjing was in the north, Sujing in the south.
The customs between north and south differed greatly.
In Jiangnan, to express liking for a young man, a lady would give him her everyday pendant. If the young man accepted, he would return a sachet he wore, indicating he liked the lady.
But in Xuanjing, the custom of throwing vine balls meant the young man had to accept them regardless of whether he liked the thrower. If he wished to respond, he would put a red bean in the ball and return it.
A little girl of five or six passed by Jiang Xuesui with a vine ball, tripped on a small stone, and fell.
Jiang Xuesui quickly picked up the crying girl and comforted her softly.
"My elder sister didn't come today. She likes Young Master Wen. I wanted to throw the ball for her, but I'm too weak and afraid of missing," the girl sobbed.
"Let your sister help you," Jiang Xuesui said, taking the vine ball and throwing it with all her might toward Wen Qiao.
Wen Qiao sensed it and instinctively wanted to dodge, but recognizing the ball came from Jiang Xuesui's hand, he paused in surprise and caught it.
He turned to gaze at Jiang Xuesui, his eyes clear.
The young girl pointed to the little girl in her arms.
He nodded, understanding the situation, and tossed the vine ball to his attendant.
His eyes gradually darkened.
Yuanyuan was from Jiangnan.
She naturally followed Jiangnan customs.
Even the vine ball Yuanyuan threw didn't count.
It seemed Yuanyuan's favorite pendant was a butterfly-shaped black jade lock symbolizing long life.
*
Wen Qiao didn't try to dissuade Jiang Xuesui from playing polo. Instead, he instructed his servant to bring out a docile chestnut pony for her to ride.
This horse was the most gentle.
Before the match, Lady Sang gave him many instructions.
Lady Sang: "A Qiao, let Xiao Lin shine in front of Yuanyuan. Just help your sister... Nongyu will also play. Be more considerate of Nongyu..."
Wen Yuan'ai couldn't stand it anymore. Having grown up together, how could she not see through her brother's feelings? If it weren't for Yuanyuan, A Qiao wouldn't have come to this polo match at all, let alone play.