Several of the princely heirs initially left with solemn expressions, and Qu Fulan assumed they had gone to discuss strategy. After all, with Heir Pei absent, their original game plan would likely need to change.
However, she didn’t expect that, in the end, they would invite her to join them.
Qu Fulan was taken to the private grounds where Prince An and the others were convening.
Upon seeing Heir Pei’s absence, Qu Fulan noticed them wandering around like headless flies, and she couldn’t help but offer some comfort, "There’s no need for you to worry, Heir Pei mentioned he would return as quickly as possible before leaving. You know his style—if he couldn’t return, he would have notified us ahead of time."
Indeed, if Heir Pei couldn’t return, he would certainly inform in advance and make all necessary arrangements. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
If he doesn’t say, it means he will return, but when exactly is uncertain.
He might come back today, tomorrow, or perhaps only on the day of the finals. This means Prince An and the others will have to hold on.
Previously, during polo practice, Qu Fulan had observed their play. With Heir Pei leading, they performed excellently. Now, without a leader, the situation was naturally different.
But that doesn’t mean they were entirely deficient.
If they grit their teeth and push through a few rounds, they could still manage.
Ultimately, they would likely lose because there were stronger teams on the field.
After losing, they’d move to the loser’s bracket, meaning no more matches for today. The crucial matches would be during tomorrow’s loser’s bracket.
Yes, this competition was divided into a winner’s bracket and a loser’s bracket.
The winner’s bracket would advance directly to the finals, while the loser’s bracket still offered a chance for promotion.
However, even after hearing her analysis, Prince An and the others were not at ease.
They were all young and spirited; who could endure losing?
Moreover, they had already lost last year. If they were to lose again this year, who knows how they’d be ridiculed. That’s why they were so eager to persuade Heir Pei to participate; who would have predicted something ?
But even so, they didn’t want to lose.
With Heir Pei absent, wasn’t there still someone more skilled than them here?
Prince An looked at Qu Fulan, rubbing his hands reluctantly and looking extremely embarrassed.
To an outsider, it might have looked like he was constipated.
"Miss Qiu, what I’m about to say may be somewhat offensive, but we truly have no other options. Please, you must help us!"
Qu Fulan noticed their serious and solemn expressions and couldn’t quite guess their intentions. She said, "Prince, speak directly. If there’s anything I can help with, I won’t refuse."
Hearing this, Prince An, Chu Jin, Wei Xu, and Ge Yang exchanged glances before Prince An spoke up to Qu Fulan.
"Today’s match is crucial for us, but with Jian absent and Jin Sheng, who excels at polo, also missing, we are essentially down two substitutes in our team. How can we compete ?"
Substitutes are typically those not skilled enough and thus become substitutes. Sometimes, managing with one substitute is difficult enough, let alone two.
"That’s why we’re asking you to stand in until Heir Pei arrives. What do you say?" Prince An finally voiced the critical request.
Qu Fulan was taken aback by Prince An’s shocking proposal.
After Prince An spoke, the others looked at her with nervous anticipation.
Meanwhile, outside, Third Miss and others noticed Qu Fulan’s absence and asked about her whereabout. Before the maid could answer, Cheng Ru spoke up.
"I saw her being called away by a servant from Prince An’s side. Not sure where they went."
Fang Yuan, having been fully engrossed in the game, hadn’t paid attention to this. Hearing Cheng Ru speak, she grew curious, "What’s Prince An doing with Fulan?"
Cheng Ru replied, "I wouldn’t know, but your sister Fulan is quite capable, able to do things others can’t. So, it’s not surprising if something happens to her."
This seemed like an excuse for Qu Fulan, but any noble lady hearing it would think of Qu Fulan as rebellious.
However, Third Miss and Fang Yuan didn’t think much of it, as in their minds, Qu Fulan was indeed unique.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Miss Jin hesitated upon hearing that Qu Fulan was a maidservant. The boundaries between master and servant were clear, and it wouldn’t be proper for her to thank a maidservant; it would be unseemly if word got out.
In the end, Miss Jin decided not to seek out Qu Fulan but instead had Feng Mei’er go in her stead with some gifts.
Feng Mei’er was eager to do so; she didn’t want to serve by her cousin’s side and was keen to talk to Qu Fulan.
After careful consideration, she realized that, given her current situation, relying on Qu Fulan was her only way to get in touch with the Pei Family.
Though her cousin was friends with Heir Pei and others, she couldn’t get close to the Pei Family through him, nor could she rely on her cousin. The Jin Family was known in Ganhe Town, but in the Capital City, it meant little, so even Cousin Jin could only aim for an arranged marriage of equal status.
Feng Mei’er didn’t value the Jin family status; she aimed high. She needed conditions like those of the Pei Family to elevate the entire Feng Family.
Just as she was about to find Qu Fulan, Qu Fulan was called away.
Instinctively, she followed.
In the private setting, Qu Fulan flatly refused the request from Prince An and the others.
"Why? What are you worried about?" Prince An asked anxiously.
Their match was imminent, and time was tight.
A team needs a core figure to stabilize morale. With Heir Pei absent, the remaining members couldn’t step up as a core figure, or it would be like last year. Chu Jin had tried as the core last year, and even though he was the son of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and practiced martial arts, they still lost.
But Qu Fulan was different. They had seen her skills, which surpassed theirs. Although she was a woman, who says women are inferior to men?
In any case, they unanimously believed she posed no problem.
Besides, they had seen Miss Qiu disguised as a man before, and she did it well. Her cross-dressing should pass unnoticed on the field.
Qu Fulan thought they were desperate, trying any method. This was a city-wide acclaimed match, not some casual game.
How could they think of having her play?
"Let’s not even discuss that the competition rules specify only men can participate. Even if women were allowed, there’d be a separate competition. Mixing genders is scandalous. If discovered, I’d be ruined."
"If we don’t tell, and you don’t tell, who will know?" Prince An persisted. "Besides, with Wei Xu around, who everyone already sees as effeminate, no one would question your disguise as a man."
Wei Xu kicked Prince An, but joined in the persuasion, "Right, we can just say you’re my distant cousin. No one will suspect a thing."
"Who are you? What are you doing here?!"
From outside came the guards’ stern questioning.