The others immediately shook their heads in unison, all of them wearing innocent expressions.
Zhao Huan was so furious his teeth hurt.
But he had no proof and could only swallow the grievance in silence. He shot the people across from him a vicious glare before turning and running off.
The second half began, and Shi Huai dribbled the ball forward.
The opposing defenders stood as though they had been frozen by a spell, watching helplessly as he sprinted past them with the ball.
Xie Zhaolin was positioned on defense for the opposing team. When Shi Huai came charging toward him with the ball, Xie Zhaolin’s steps faltered. He shifted slightly to the side, leaving a path open.
As Shi Huai dribbled past him, Xie Zhaolin caught the faint scent of soapberry on him.
Clean and refreshing, like the air after the first spring rain.
His heart skipped a beat. His fingers clenched inside his sleeves, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. Only after taking a deep breath did he manage to steady himself.
A teammate rushed up behind him and patted him on the shoulder, lowering his voice as he asked, “Brother Xie, why did you let him past?”
Xie Zhaolin came back to himself. Tugging at the corner of his mouth, he gave a bitter smile.
“I twisted my ankle. I couldn’t keep my footing.”
His teammate was left speechless by that explanation. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, then decided that nothing would be appropriate. In the end, he merely patted Xie Zhaolin on the shoulder before turning to chase after the ball.
Shi Huai charged toward the goal, lifted his foot, and sent the ball flying.
The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air, skimmed past the goalpost, and flew into the net.
The entire cuju field fell silent for an instant before erupting into deafening cheers.
Zhao Huan was the first to rush over. He threw his arms around Shi Huai and clung to him like a giant dog, his voice trembling with excitement.
“It went in! It went in! Shi Huai, you scored!”
Zhao Huan squeezed him so tightly that Shi Huai could barely breathe. He patted Zhao Huan on the back and said helplessly, “Zhao Huan, let go first. You’re going to strangle me.”
Zhao Huan released him and took two steps back.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that his voice was stuck in his throat and refused to come out. In the end, he could only nod vigorously.
Shen Jinghong came over and patted Shi Huai on the shoulder. His peach-blossom eyes were half narrowed, and a hint of a smile touched his lips. His voice was lower than usual.
“Nicely done.”
His hand lingered on Shi Huai’s shoulder for two beats longer than ordinary social etiquette required before he slowly withdrew it.
The Crown Prince was dressed in a black riding outfit, and beneath the sunlight, his entire bearing was handsome and heroic.
He took a handkerchief from his sleeve and held it out. “Wipe away your sweat.”
The Crown Prince’s voice was low and gentle, carrying a certainty that made it impossible to refuse.
Shi Huai accepted the handkerchief and wiped his forehead. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince took a deep breath and regained his usual composure. “Go rest over there for a while. Don’t catch cold.”
Shi Huai nodded and turned toward the edge of the field.
The Crown Prince remained where he was, watching his departing figure. His throat bobbed several times before he finally forced down the surge of emotion within him.
The Third Prince came over and stood beside him, his gaze likewise fixed on that retreating back. His voice was so soft it seemed a breeze could scatter it.
“Imperial Brother, what do you think of Shi Huai?”
The Crown Prince turned his head and glanced at his younger brother. The corners of his lips lifted slightly—not by much, but enough to make his expression seem suffused with warmth.
“He’s very good. Extremely good. So good that I don’t know how to describe him.”
The Third Prince remained silent for quite some time before finally forcing out, “Imperial Brother, do you think Father might arrange a marriage between Jinse and Shi Huai?”
The Crown Prince’s expression shifted from casual indifference to shock.
His pupils contracted sharply. “What did you say?”
The Third Prince’s heart gave a little lurch at his reaction, but he struggled to maintain his composure.
“I said, do you think Father might arrange a marriage between Jinse and Shi Huai? She’s fourteen this year, which is exactly the age when families begin considering marriage prospects.”
The Crown Prince’s face darkened, complicated emotions churning in his eyes.
Jinse—his younger sister, the little girl who had followed him around since childhood, calling him “Brother Crown Prince.” In his eyes, she would always be a child in need of his protection.
But his third brother’s words were like a basin of icy water poured over him from head to toe, jolting him fully awake.
Fourteen—the age when girls began to be considered for marriage.
Shi Huai was twelve.
There were two years between them.
The Crown Prince drew a deep breath, forcing down the turmoil in his chest. His voice returned to its usual calm steadiness.
“Jinse’s affairs are for Mother to worry about. You certainly seem to have plenty of time on your hands, meddling in your sister’s marriage prospects.”
His gaze settled on the Third Prince’s face, carrying a hint of scrutiny and probing.
The Third Prince felt his heart tighten beneath that gaze, but his expression remained impassive. A faint smile even appeared at the corners of his mouth.
“Imperial Brother is right. I was being nosy. I only thought that Jinse has been spending rather too much time with Shi Huai. If word got out, it wouldn’t be good for Jinse’s reputation.”
The moment the Crown Prince heard the name “Shi Huai,” his fingers clenched around the jade pendant at his waist as though he meant to crush it.
Of course he knew that Jinse had been spending too much time with Shi Huai.
He knew that she had gone to the Marquis of Yongning’s residence to “study poetry.” He knew that she had stayed up all night embroidering a sachet for Shi Huai. He knew that every time she mentioned Shi Huai, her eyes shone with an alarming brightness…
But what could he say?
Wasn’t he also finding one excuse after another to go to the Imperial College every day? Didn’t he also find himself unable to look away whenever he saw Shi Huai? Hadn’t he memorized the poem Shi Huai had written by heart?
The Crown Prince closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. When he opened them again, they had already regained their usual inscrutable calm.
“Jinse is still young and doesn’t know any better. She’ll grow out of it in a couple of years.”
The Third Prince looked at the Crown Prince’s deliberately composed expression, and the corner of his mouth twitched faintly.
He very much wanted to ask: Imperial Brother, when you say “she’ll grow out of it in a couple of years,” do you mean Jinse—or yourself?
But he did not ask, because he knew the answer.
If even the lofty Crown Prince himself could not control his feelings, what right did he have to expect his younger sister to control hers?
“Imperial Brother is right. I was overthinking it.” The Third Prince lowered his head, his deferential manner flawless.
The Crown Prince nodded and turned toward the edge of the field. After walking two steps, he stopped and said without looking back:
“Third Brother, you’ve been very concerned about Shi Huai lately.”
