The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 474 - 442: Mine Is an Heirloom (Update 1)

The girl sitting next to Prince Ding was wearing a narrow-sleeved short jacket in tea-white color, with the cuffs tied up. She had an arm rope hanging around her neck, securing the excess sleeves for convenient swinging later in the game.

She sat there with a posture that wasn’t restrained at all, yet didn’t appear overly casual either, very quiet and well-behaved.

When her name was called, Ye Ling was sipping tea. Upon hearing, she set down the lidded bowl, stood up, and made a gesture of courtesy. Then, she looked up and sweetly smiled at Zhao Xi, "Earlier, I heard from the Prince that His Highness would come. We waited for quite a while but didn’t see you. We all thought you had some urgent matters and couldn’t make it."

As she smiled, her eyes were like the sun in early spring, exceedingly bright and charming.

The wind on the polo field was a bit strong, fluttering the light bangs on her forehead. Her small face, as white as porcelain, still retained the innocent softness of a young girl. Between frowns and smiles, her brows and eyes were lively, making her quite a pleasing sight.

Song Yuanbao suddenly felt as if his heart, which had been trampled to pieces by Zhao Xi, was struck by an arrow. He instinctively reached out to cover it.

Zhao Xi’s gaze did not linger long on Ye Ling, responding lightly, "Ran into some issues on the way, took a detour."

Then he directed his attention to the side of Ye Ling.

Sitting there was Xue Yinhuan from the Minister’s Mansion.

She and Ye Ling were close friends. Ye Ling was playing in the match today, and Xue Yinhuan was here to cheer for her as her companion.

"Why did you come out?" Zhao Xi asked her, his voice calm and pleasant, showing concern as her fiancé.

Xue Yinhuan did not expect to run into Zhao Xi at the polo field, feeling a bit embarrassed, she glanced at Ye Ling, "I came accompanying her."

Zhao Xi gave a quiet acknowledgment, sitting down beside Prince Ding, and gestured to the empty seat on the left, indicating for Song Yuanbao to sit.

Prince Ding noticed Song Yuanbao.

In fact, from the time these bright and handsome young men entered, they had already attracted quite a few people’s attention.

The two were similar in stature, with cloud-patterned robes and brocade boots, each carrying a different aura, making it hard not to notice.

Seeing Prince Ding observing Song Yuanbao, Zhao Xi casually introduced, "He’s my companion."

Prince Ding had heard of this young man from the Song family. Rumors about him falling asleep thrice during provincial exams and still coming out as top scorer had circulated around. Prince Ding hadn’t believed it at first but asked the examiners afterward and was told no one had gone easy on him; this top scorer was achieved by true merit, sparking curiosity about the young man.

Today was the first time meeting him, Prince Ding was left with a good impression and smiled, inviting the young man to sit.

Remembering the time Zhao Xi almost got assassinated, which he hadn’t forgotten, seeing Zhao Xi bringing only Song Yuanbao in, he showed a concern on his face, "Xixi didn’t bring more people?"

"Did." Zhao Xi replied, "I had them stay outside to guard."

All were Imperial Guards, with Emperor Guangxi worrying about another assassination attempt, specifically dispatched to protect him.

Prince Ding still couldn’t rest assured, fearing that this precious prince might encounter problems at the polo match he hosted, and instructed to enhance security: everyone entering must be carefully searched, forbidding any weapons that could cause harm.

Zhao Xi thought his uncle might be overly anxious but did not speak against it in the end, noticing Song Yuanbao covering his chest, he asked, "Heart condition acting up?"

"..."

Song Yuanbao thought this person was quite insensitive. How did he see heart trouble in his gesture of holding his heart with longing?

Sneaking a roll of his eyes, Song Yuanbao put his hand down, straightened his posture, sitting correctly.

Though masked well, Zhao Xi could still discern some subtle thoughts from his small gestures.

Considering the many present, Zhao Xi chose not to reveal what he noticed, glanced at the eager fans outside the field, and asked Prince Ding, "When does the polo match start?"

Prince Ding pointed with his chin at the incense burner beside them. A stick of incense inserted within had already burned halfway.

"The teams are warming up, when the incense burns out, we start." Prince Ding answered.

Only then Zhao Xi noticed the young men in the rest area on the other side had already split into teams, a yellow team and a blue team, differentiated by headbands tied around their heads.

Song Yuanbao’s focus was different from Zhao Xi’s. As he glimpsed the young men warming up, their eyes frequently swept over this way in a manner that left no doubt on where they were looking.

He coincidentally sat opposite Ye Ling, quietly moved his position, blocking the view of several people at once.

The young man, watching the beauty intently, glared with big eyes, itching to come over and hit him.

Someone next to him advised, "Let it go, haven’t you seen that’s the VIP area? If you truly offend a noble, we won’t be able to handle the consequences."

The young man showed a resentful expression, "If not for Miss Ye, who would willingly stand in the wind?"

After speaking, he sniffed his nose, seemingly ready to sneeze at any moment.

The early spring in the capital doesn’t warm up quickly like the south does. The location of the polo field was slightly out of the way, with quite a strong wind making people uncomfortable.

These style-over-warmth young men came in groups today, all for Ye Ling’s sake.

In fact, they came every year; only this year Miss Ye turned fourteen, giving them a greater hope for courtship.

A companion advised him, "Stop grumbling, just warm-up and step on the blue team so you’ll have the chance to play alongside her."

Indeed, Ye Ling was here as the star of the show. The preceding games were best of three, the winning side gets to play a match against Ye Ling. Prince Ding stated that whichever team might defeat Miss Ye this year would have the prize doubled.

"What’s the prize?"

Over in the VIP area, Song Yuanbao suddenly asked.

Prince Ding had someone bring the prize for him to see.

Song Yuanbao leaned forward, seeing there were several items on the tray, including hairpins, jade pendants, bracelets, and earrings.

"These are the guests’ bets." Prince Ding explained, "The prize I offer is Master Qi Rui’s latest creation, a gilded silver sachet with double bee flower patterns."

Master Qi Rui is a renowned craftsman of this dynasty, designing these small items exclusively for the palace. Each masterpiece he creates has only one piece, all are one-of-a-kind, beloved by the concubines.

Song Yuanbao glanced at the items on the tray, casually taking off the jade pendant from his waist and putting it in.

Prince Ding asked him, "Young Master Song’s jade pendant seems of excellent quality, are you sure you want to wager this?"

"Yes!" Song Yuanbao answered straightforwardly, a faint smile hanging on his lips.

In the rush to come, Zhao Xi hadn’t prepared anything else, like Song Yuanbao, he took off his own jade pendant.

Seeing this, Prince Ding chuckled, "Your pendants somewhat resemble."

Song Yuanbao hastily attempted to distinguish, "Mine is an heirloom, different from his."

Prince Ding’s laughter grew hearty, "Young Master Song’s prize today is quite significant."

Saying this, he told the little eunuch to carry the tray away.

When they were gone, Zhao Xi asked Song Yuanbao, "Since when did the jade pendant from my palace become your heirloom?"

Song Yuanbao blinked, "I didn’t misspeak, His Highness’s jade pendant is a treasure. I pass it on to the house I hope to win, doesn’t that make it an heirloom; what’s wrong with that?"

Zhao Xi: "..."

Ye Ling was quietly conversing with Xue Yinhuan, entirely unaware of the movements of the two young men opposite.

She curiously looked at Xue Yinhuan, "Isn’t the eldest prince Sister Huan’s fiancé? Why don’t you speak to him?"

The words "fiancé" caused Xue Yinhuan’s cheeks to flush as she glared at Ye Ling, "Haven’t married yet, what should I say?"

Ye Ling didn’t know what to say; simply felt this atmosphere was quite strange.

Xue Yinhuan secretly glanced at Zhao Xi, whom she certainly didn’t want to speak to in public; this person gave off an aura of aloofness, if she did speak, others might wrongly think she’s already being shunned by him before the marriage.

Xue Yinhuan remained silent, yet Zhao Xi raised his eyes to look over.

His pale eye color matching the aloof demeanor Xue Yinhuan anticipated.

Xue Yinhuan was daydreaming when Zhao Xi asked if she was cold, and she nodded unconsciously without realizing.

Zhao Xi then discussed with Prince Ding, "Uncle, could we add a brazier?"

Prince Ding was initially wary about placing a brazier with so many people around for fear of accidents. Now that his little nephew had asked, he couldn’t refuse, promptly agreed, "Certainly, I’ll arrange for it now."

Once said, he summoned the personal eunuch and whispered instructions.

Shortly thereafter, servants came carrying a brazier inside.

At this moment, Xue Yinhuan regained awareness and muttered, "Why is there a brazier added?"

Ye Ling looked at her in disbelief, "Wasn’t Sister Huan the one who wanted it?"

Xue Yinhuan belatedly recalled that Zhao Xi had seemed to ask if she was cold earlier.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, with the brazier already settled, she opted not to explain further, merely glanced at Zhao Xi opposite, softly said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

"Naturally." Zhao Xi’s response was exceedingly calm, as if he regarded caring for her as a duty.