Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Victory
"So now that there are no foreign diplomats, what’s the competition format like?" Cheng Ru asked again, "Second Cousin can’t possibly team up with Heir Xiao again, can he?"
Third Miss said, "I heard Heir Xiao won’t be participating in this year’s polo match, just Second Brother with his own team competing against other teams."
The reason for Heir Xiao’s absence was quite justified; given his current status and reputation, he didn’t need such competitions to gain fame or profit.
Meanwhile, the match on the field had already begun with great enthusiasm.
This match always excited people, and Prince An, along with several sons of Vice Ministers, watched with bated breath, more thrilled than if they were playing themselves.
Since Prince An and his group’s tent was next to the Pei Family’s, and these tents didn’t have walls, whatever they said could be heard by everyone around.
"Great shot, hahaha, that lad’s skills are still so lacking."
"They scored again! This team’s not bad; they might just make it to the end. I’m betting on this team!"
Every match had people betting, and winning doubled the prize.
When the organizer came over to collect the stakes, Qu Fulan also took out her own savings to bet on a team, though it was a team opposite to the one Prince An and his companions were betting on.
Third Miss and the others didn’t engage in such games, perhaps because of the pride of a lady, disdainful of gambling.
Qu Fulan, being a maid, naturally didn’t have to worry about such things.
Seeing Qu Fulan place her bets, Third Miss looked over, a bit surprised, "Why did you bet on this team?"
"I think this team will win," Qu Fulan said honestly.
"What makes you think so?" She seemed quite interested.
Qu Fulan didn’t hide it and directly shared her thoughts.
"This team’s striker is quite accurate, but unfortunately, he’s too rash, and the team’s coordination is too weak, so they might win this round, but it’s hard to say for the next ones."
The fact later proved Qu Fulan right; this team indeed won this round but lost in the next one.
Meanwhile, because Prince An and the others saw this team win, they bet on them in the second round and lost.
In the next three or four rounds, Prince An and his companions continued their streak of bad luck, losing consecutively.
In contrast, Qu Fulan kept winning.
Prince An and his group collectively turned to look at Qu Fulan: "..."
Then, in the following matches, before they placed their bets, they inevitably asked Qu Fulan for her opinion.
Qu Fulan didn’t hide her insights, "The horses of this team aren’t up to par; in a polo match, the horse is the hardware, and if it isn’t chosen well, it will definitely hold them back."
Prince An took a look and indeed, wasn’t that the case? Because he always wanted to go to the battlefield, he knew a bit about horses. Some looked sturdy but were actually useless, just like the horses of the team on the field now. They could run at first, but would surely lose strength later on.
Thus, he bet on the other team to win.
The other three sons of Vice Ministers, who were already seeing red from losing, also followed suit, trying one last time as a dying horse gamble.
And they won.
This time, it was incredible! They immediately elevated Qu Fulan to the status of a distinguished guest, not hesitating to serve tea and fan her.
"God Qu, please guide us again next time."
"Count me in."
"I’ll join too."
Third Miss, Fang Yuan, and Cheng Ru were all too surprised to know what to say.
Even though Fulan had luckily won a few times, was it really enough to make these noble young men treat her with such reverence?
However, they didn’t know that aside from Qu Fulan’s superb polo skills previously impressing Prince An and his companions, her performance in the Jin Family had also convincingly demonstrated her capabilities, now she had repeatedly won bets, it was no wonder these people were awed into following her.
Anyone with skills deserves to be treated differently.
Meanwhile, Feng Mei’er had also come to Capital City to watch the polo match today.
She originally came to rely on relatives for her marriage, hardly ever having the chance to enter the city, and now with such a grand event, she naturally joined in.
After what happened at the Jin Family, the Second Madam was given twenty lashes by the authorities and released, but the Jin Family decided not to keep the second branch anyone. They gave them a manor for them to move to.
The concubine was also sent to the manor, and she feared she wouldn’t have a chance to return; her son had been fostered under the First Madam for proper upbringing.
The First Madam, after taking the medicine provided by Qu Fulan, was slowly recovering her health.
Even though Jin Sheng’s leg wasn’t healed yet, due to his love for polo, he insisted on coming over in a wheelchair to watch, concerned about the matches his brothers were playing.
Along with him was his sister, who came too; Feng Mei’er was with Miss Jin.
But Miss Jin didn’t pay much attention to this relative, treating her more like a servant, summoning her and sending her as she pleased, making Feng Mei’er feel very aggrieved but unable to express it.
While she was receiving such poor treatment, Qu Fulan was being treated like an honored guest, which just made her more furious to watch.
She had heard that Heir Xiao didn’t come to today’s polo match, luckily, because what if Qu Fulan actually met Heir Xiao?
But now, with Heir Xiao not here, and Qu Fulan doing so well, Feng Mei’er felt extremely uncomfortable.
Why could a maid be doing so well, while she, a proper young lady, was being ordered around like a maid?
Feng Mei’er couldn’t stand seeing Qu Fulan doing so well and had the mind to pull her down or use her to escape, but feared exposing her identity; otherwise, the word would spread and eventually reach Heir Xiao’s ears, which she couldn’t allow.
Thus, the situation became tricky, but after pondering over and over, Feng Mei’er finally had an idea.
She leaned over and said to Miss Jin, "She’s the one who prepared the medicine for the First Madam, Mr. Qu."
When Heir Pei and the others went to the Jin Mansion, Miss Jin had gone to the temple to pray for her mother’s health and missed a lot of the events.
But later, she heard that Heir Pei and the others had greatly helped the Jin Family, especially a young Mr. Qu, who prepared the medicine for her mother, for which she was naturally grateful.
Hearing Feng Mei’er say this, she frowned, "Who are you talking about?"
It’s no wonder she was puzzled; Feng Mei’er pointed to a girl, but Mr. Qu was supposed to be a man.
Feng Mei’er covered her mouth and laughed, "She is disguised as a man, fooling everyone, but I saw through her."
Miss Jin finally understood and planned to go over to thank her personally.
Though Miss Jin was somewhat overbearing, she was pampered into that. She looked down on Feng Mei’er, her flattering distant relative, but she was grateful to the... girl, who had helped her family.
Feng Mei’er, however, added, "She’s a maid of the Pei Family."
Miss Jin was stunned.
Meanwhile, Prince An’s first match was about to start.
This match was a three-day event; the first two days basically served as elimination rounds, with the final battle for supremacy on the third day.
Therefore, the matches on the first two days were crucial; if you were eliminated, how could you speak of the third day?
But at this critical juncture, Heir Pei hadn’t returned!
Having lost Jin Sheng, and now even the main strength was absent, how could they possibly play?
For a moment, the joy of betting on victories was long gone for Prince An and his friends, who were anxious like ants on a hot pan.
Amid the panic, someone’s eyes fell on Qu Fulan.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.