The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 475 - 443: Yuanbao’s Tactics (Part 2)

While a few people were talking, the incense had already burned to the end, and the players from both the red and blue teams each led their horses to the field.

Knowing that today’s prize was Qi Rui’s new creation sachet, the young men sitting on horseback were eager to win and present it to Miss Ye.

With the referee’s command, the match began.

The previously calm field suddenly became filled with clouds of dust, with the polo ball rolling back and forth as the young men chased after it.

The spectators outside cheered for the match.

Ye Ling only glanced casually a few times then looked away, asking Prince Ding’s maid for a Zisha teapot.

Besides being skilled at polo, she was proficient in all arts including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, and especially tea brewing. Bored while sitting, she wanted to brew a pot of tea for a few people using the fire brazier.

Song Yuanbao casually glanced up and saw the girl’s fingers holding the teapot handle; they were cold white and slender, evenly long. As she poured water into the pot, all his attention gathered at the spout, her drooping eyelashes were thick and black, flickering like a little feather fan. Her eyes were clear and bright, clean like a kitten.

Song Yuanbao had heard her speak before, different from what he imagined the General Mansion’s fierce daughter would be like, Ye Ling’s voice was very gentle and soft, making one’s heart itch.

"These hands..." Song Yuanbao blurted out unwittingly.

"Ah?" Across, Ye Ling seemed to sense it and looked up.

Song Yuanbao initially wanted to say they were pretty, but facing those innocent and pure eyes, he swallowed and changed it to, "Can you play polo?"

Ye Ling heard his half sentence above, putting it together was like asking her: Can these hands play polo?

Nobody had ever asked her like that before, Ye Ling was stunned, subconsciously glanced at her hand, and responded with another "Ah."

The first ah was a question, the latter ah was a reply.

Song Yuanbao felt that this girl was even more pure and well-behaved than he imagined.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly and he said, "Pretty good."

Actually, he meant she was pretty pure and pleasing to the eye, and he quite liked her.

The girl across thought he was complimenting her polo skills, and her cheeks blushed slightly, then she softly said thank you.

Zhao Xi looked at these two with a numb expression, his face a live portrayal of "Who am I, where am I, what kind of people are these around me?"

Song Yuanbao was the kind of person who liked to take advantage of every situation. The girl across hadn’t refused to talk to him, so he quickly imagined that she had some favorable feelings towards him.

"I can’t play polo." He added.

Zhao Xi looked at him, not understanding how Song Yuanbao could admit a weakness like "I can’t play polo" so confidently, making people mistakenly think he’d soon say "Can you teach me?"

In fact, Zhao Xi was not mistaken, Song Yuanbao really said it.

He looked earnestly at the girl who was slightly confused by his enthusiasm, thinking of calling her sister, but felt it was too forward, so he changed it to, "Miss, could you teach me?"

"Ah, right now?" The girl was still bewildered.

Song Yuanbao smiled, "Whenever you have time, I’m ready."

It was the first time he saw someone being so shameless in flirting, Zhao Xi turned his head away, looking at the young men playing polo, feeling like he never really knew Song Yuanbao.

Oh no, never really understood the extent of this guy’s shamelessness.

What he had shown before was probably just the tip of the iceberg.

Xue Yinhuan watched Ye Ling’s soft reaction, feeling somewhat amused.

Though she was from the General Mansion, she was the apple of the family matriarch’s eye, raised delicately from a young age, even more precious than those from noble families.

With the relatively open atmosphere in Great Chu, Ye Ling had many admirers and frequently saw unfamiliar men on the polo field. Today, this one was probably the most unique in history.

If you were to say he wasn’t serious, well, he was clearly humbly seeking instruction without saying anything out of line. Yet, if you said he was serious, nearly every sentence seemed a bit off.

To show politeness, Ye Ling couldn’t not respond, her voice still soft, "I have another match later."

"Hmm." Song Yuanbao raised an eyebrow, "No problem, you play, I’ll watch."

Zhao Xi suddenly regretted bringing this fool out to embarrass himself.

The fool embarrassing him suddenly elbowed his arm, "Hey..."

"If you have something to say, just say it." Zhao Xi was too lazy to look at him, his gaze still fixed on the polo field.

Song Yuanbao said, "If you truly compete with her later, remember to go easy."

Zhao Xi finally turned to him, "How is she related to you for you to protect her?"

"Master." Song Yuanbao answered seriously.

Zhao Xi sneered, "Then by that count, I’m your master too, and I’m ahead of her, why don’t you have her spare me?"

"That’s different."

"How is it different?"

Without needing much comparison, Song Yuanbao bluntly said, "She looks prettier."

That implied that Zhao Xi didn’t look good.

It’s just not expressed very clearly.

Clearly blinded by beauty.

Huh.

Zhao Xi’s fifteen years of good upbringing began to crumble, sending him a single word, "Scram."

While the two were whispering to each other, Ye Ling had already brewed tea, poured it into white porcelain cups one by one, and brought them over on a tray.

"Please enjoy the tea, Prince."

"Please enjoy the tea, Your Highness."

"Song, Song..."

Song Yuanbao glanced at the little girl standing in front of him and asked, "Why does it stop at me?"

The little girl didn’t know why she suddenly forgot how to address him, her eyes began to turn confused.

When she was confused, she was very quiet, her whole face written with the word "obedient."

Song Yuanbao felt like his bones were melting, how could there be someone in this world who at first glance seemed destined to be his future wife?

From her physique and voice to her adorable reactions, it was like heaven designed her according to his preferences.

Afraid she might stay confused, he quickly introduced himself, "I have a nickname, Yuanbao; you can call me that."

"Young Master Yuanbao." The little girl immediately responded.

Young Master Yuanbao?

Song Yuanbao raised an eyebrow, wondering if this was a special title for him?

He was still lost in thought, as the little girl had already put down the gaiwan and returned to her seat.

At this time, the first polo match among the youths on the field was coming to an end, with the Red Team winning.

The temporarily leading youths were excited, feeling one step closer to the little beauty.

Song Yuanbao twisted his body on the round stool, turning his back on Ye Ling and Xue Yinhuan, and along with Zhao Xi, looked towards the polo field, speaking of matters unrelated to the match, "How was my performance just now?"

Zhao Xi glanced at him indifferently, choosing not to respond.

"Why are you ignoring me?"

Zhao Xi asked him, "Want to hear the truth?"

Song Yuanbao paused for a moment, "Tell me a lie first."

"A bit silly."

"...And the truth?"

"Silly beyond measure."

Song Yuanbao twitched his lips twice, "Are you really my buddy?"

"I’m your mentor." Zhao Xi said calmly and steadily, "The other day at the restaurant, your father asked me to discipline you well."

"Come on...I just exchanged a few words with the girl, it’s not that serious, right?"

Zhao Xi said, "Generally, silly people tend to claim they’re not silly."

Song Yuanbao asked him, "Are you silly?"

Zhao Xi, quick on his feet, naturally wouldn’t fall for his trap, lightly snorted, "Go sit on the side, the second match is about to start."

Song Yuanbao didn’t listen, circling back to the previous topic, "I even wagered the family heirloom today, and you could easily let her win one match. What’s the harm in that?"

Zhao Xi said, "I’ve yet to see what the family heirloom looks like."

"Isn’t it the one you gave me." Song Yuanbao felt he was picking a fight deliberately, hesitated, "I made it up, fine, I made it up, okay?"

Zhao Xi turned his head, his eyes deep, "Based on your father’s request, I think it’s crucial to correct your lying habit. I’m okay with letting her win, but you must clarify that the Jade Pendant isn’t a family heirloom, but rather something from the palace."

Song Yuanbao found it very difficult, "Isn’t that asking me to embarrass myself?"

Zhao Xi, with an expression of "that’s your problem, not mine."

Song Yuanbao struggled for a long time, still unable to voice it, "Couldn’t we switch the request?"

"Sure." Zhao Xi said, "I’ll tell them personally."

"..."

Song Yuanbao opted for the former; he turned around, looked at the little girl sitting by the fire basin warming her hands, opened his mouth, and couldn’t make a sound.

The little girl noticed his gaze, looked up, and smiled sweetly, "Young Master Yuanbao, do you need something?"

"Nothing." Song Yuanbao smiled, squeezing out two words through his teeth, then turned around again, taking a deep breath, expressing strong disapproval of Zhao Xi’s "break up lovebirds" behavior, "Don’t you find yourself too cruel?"

Zhao Xi chuckled lightly, "Comparing what you did — using my item, borrowing a flower to offer to Buddha, claiming it as a family heirloom, deceiving the little girl — my so-called cruelty is nothing."