Song Emperor Jiangshan

Xiao Shan rarely met Zhao Yuan these days. As a servant, he was often absent from attending classes with the prince, and he seldom went to practice martial arts in the afternoon. His energy was spent on investigating the palace personnel. Just hang out with the guards and eunuchs, or make an excuse to go out of the house to make unannounced visits.Because everyone knew that Zhao Yuan disliked him and didn't want to see him again, so everyone felt that Xiao Shan's change was natural and reasonable.And began to privately speculate whether the adopted son of Mr. Qin would leave the palace in two days, and find another job.

So when he was about to go out and suddenly heard that Zhao Yuan wanted all the guards to play football with him in the afternoon, he couldn't help being a little surprised: When did Zhao Yuan like playing football?

Hearing Xiao Shan's question, Wu Hao said: "Your Highness said a few days ago that he didn't want to practice archery, so he turned the afternoon martial arts practice into cuju. Usually, he would find the eunuchs around him to play with him. Later, he felt that the eunuchs were boring, so he ordered us all to play. Go and accompany him, Mr. Xiao should go with him, His Highness also specially asked you to go too."

Xiao Shan doesn't like playing football very much, besides, his plan is to go to the West Lake to brush up against Han Shizhong today.Because he heard that Han Shizhong often rode a donkey around the West Lake with his wife Liang Hongyu recently, he wanted to deliberately get acquainted with this famous general and anti-golden hero.As long as you can get one or two pointers from him, you will benefit endlessly.

Seeing that Xiao Shan didn't immediately agree, Wu Hao said, "Your Highness had misunderstood Lord Xiao a few days ago, but today he asked you to go to the banquet together, which shows that His Highness has loosened up a bit, and you should take this opportunity Clear up the misunderstanding with His Highness."

Xiao Shan looked at Wu Hao suspiciously, and Wu Hao said: "Although Mr. Qin can help the lord, but now the lord is always in the palace, and it is better to have a good relationship with His Highness."

Xiao Shan also felt that he hadn't seen Zhao Yuan for several days, and now that someone pulled him to go with him, he no longer insisted on going to the West Lake to fight Han Shizhong. The guards in the mansion consisted of ten guards, divided into three shifts, and took turns to be on duty. .Now there are more than 20 free guards, so Xiao Shan, Wu Hao, Zhang Miao and more than 20 guards came to the backyard of the palace where Zhao Yuan usually practiced martial arts.

Xiao Shan saw that the Martial Arts Field had been renovated again, and all the archery targets had been thrown into the corner, but the goal on the field was very eye-catching.Xiao Shan knew that cuju in the Song Dynasty was similar to football in the later generations, and was very popular among nobles and commoners. Gao Qiu, the favorite of Song Huizong Zhao Ji, was rewarded by the emperor for his good kick and became a Taiwei.But this is the first time he has seen this kind of Cuju venue.

There were three different ways of Cuju at that time. One is similar to the football competition in later generations. There are goals on both sides. There are 12 players on both sides, and they kick the ball into each other's goal.One is that there is no goal, just something similar to the tricks and skills of the game, using various movements to kick the ball so that the ball does not land.

And what Zhao Yuan is playing at this time is the third way - the most popular single-goal game in the Song Dynasty.

In the middle of the court is a wooden board. In the center of the board is a hole with a diameter of about two feet, called "Merry Eye". The team with the most number of times the ball passes through the "eye" wins the game.

Xiao Shan saw Zhao Yuan playing with a few young eunuchs in the center of the field, and he was happy. It was already autumn, and Xiao Shan had already changed into a jacket with two layers of clothes. Zhao Yuan was only wearing a single shirt, sweating profusely. He had a great time playing football, and several young eunuchs surrounded him, some helping to applaud, and some playing against him.

Xiao Shan himself doesn't like playing football, so he doesn't know how those who like playing football work in their hearts. He thinks it's boring to play football without scoring a goal for a long time, and the movements are not chic enough when playing football. He likes basketball more ——It's cool enough to be handsome, just a slam dunk, it will inevitably cause the screams and cheers of the nurse sisters and recruits onlookers.

Xiao Shan stood aside and watched for a while, he saw that Zhao Yuan was running freely with both arms, the dislocation of that day should have been healed, now he is playing ball here without practicing martial arts, he is trying to confuse someone by pretending to be indulging in fun ?

Wu Hao, the head of the guard, has already gone to salute Zhao Yuan: "Your Highness, everyone is here!"

Zhao Yuan didn't pay any attention to it, he kicked two more times before stopping, walked towards Xiao Shan and the others, wiped the sweat from his brow with the hem of his short shirt, and said: "There are exactly 24 people, we have gathered all the people, we can Play two-goal Juju."

As soon as his words fell, the little eunuchs on the field immediately removed the middle door of the field, and brought in two small house-like goals, which were placed on both sides of the field.

Seeing that Zhao Yuan was very excited, Xiao Shan's eyes were shining, even though he didn't want to play, he still couldn't bear to play with him, so he went up and kicked him twice.Xiao Shan seldom played, and his skills were poor. He was assigned to Zhao Yuan's side. Anyway, everyone gave Zhao Yuan the chance to score goals, let him enjoy himself, and had few chances to touch the ball himself. There are more than 20 guards plus Xiao Shan and Zhao Yuan. Among them, the chief guard Wu Hao is the most skilled. As Zhao Yuan's enemy, he scores goals one after another and is very good at timing. He is not much better than Zhao Yuan. It's just that you score one goal , I get back a round of this.

After playing for a while, Xiao Shan began to be passive and sabotage his work. He saw that the sky was getting dark, and Zhao Yuan usually had to eat at this time, but today he was very excited and insisted on competing with Wu Hao, even without eating. Kick.

Xiao Shan saw that the eunuch Gan Min who was beside Zhao Yuan was also standing on the sidelines, so he walked over and asked, "Is Your Highness like this these days? I remember that he should study and practice calligraphy at this time, why didn't he go?"

Gan Min said in a low voice: "Master Xiao, you don't know something. Since you left, His Highness said that it is boring to have no company at night, so Commander Wu taught His Highness Ju Opera. These days, His Highness is fascinated by Ju Opera, and he doesn't even practice handwriting." , I don’t even read books, I just let people accompany him to play Cuju.”

Xiao Shan's brows gradually wrinkled.It's normal for young people to like sports games, not to mention that Zhao Yuan is only 16 years old this year, and usually has no entertainment, and it's okay to play football occasionally.He thought that Zhao Yuan would be very measured, but he didn't expect that he would not even practice reading.

Xiao Shan also wanted to ask Gan Min and Zhao Yuan if they would have the energy to listen to the teachers during the day when they were playing like this all day long, but Zhao Yuan was already calling him: "Qin Shan, what are you doing there? We You lost a goal, come here quickly!"

Xiao Shan didn't ask any more questions, and went to play football with Zhao Yuan.

The game continued until it was completely dark. Xiao Shan felt that it was necessary to ask Zhao Yuan about this issue. He felt a little uneasy in his heart, so he took advantage of the ball rolling to his feet and kicked it hard. , Kicked the ball.The goose feathers and chicken feathers inside the ball floated into the air, making it impossible to kick.

Seeing that the ball was gone, Zhao Yuan was very unhappy, and wanted to reprimand the guy who broke the ball, but when he turned his head and saw that it was Xiao Shan who did it, he swallowed the words, and just said: "Qin Shan, I will punish you tomorrow Make a new one."

Xiao Shan said: "It's already dark now, Your Highness hasn't had dinner yet, it's time to eat something."

Zhao Yuan's eyes dimmed a bit, but he still said: "Exactly, this king only cares about his own fun and neglects you all, everyone should leave!"

Wu Hao stepped forward at this time and said: "Your Highness, the brothers are all sweating, there are not many bathing places in the mansion, please allow us to go out and find a bathhouse to take a bath."

Zhao Yuan said: "Okay, go early and come back early."

Xiao Shan originally wanted to have a few more words with Zhao Yuan, but he was surrounded by guards and eunuchs, so he had no choice but to give up and walk back with everyone.On the way, Wu Hao came over again and said to Xiao Shan: "Lord Qin, I know that there is a place where the ju is made very well. Go buy it for His Highness tomorrow, he will definitely be happy."

Xiao Shan remembered what Gan Min said, that Wu Hao in front of him got this thing for Zhao Yuan to play with, and then he went through the list of reliable people in his mind, and Wu Hao was one of the suspects.

Xiao Shan didn't know whether Wu Hao's move had ulterior motives, or he just wanted to please Zhao Yuan.But no matter what it meant, he thought it would be better to remind Zhao Yuan.

Because everyone was sweating profusely today, and with Zhao Yuan's permission, everyone decided to go to the bathhouse on the street to take a bath together.Xiaoshan has also been to this kind of bathhouse. There are many in Hangzhou city. There are ladles and spoons hanging at the door as a reminder. It is very cheap to go once, only ten yuan.But he is not very used to the cold water bath in the bathhouse all the year round, and he doesn't like hot water being made by throwing hot stones and iron blocks into the bathtub. Personally, he prefers to take a shower.

Besides, Xiao Shan wanted to find Zhao Yuan today, if he went out with these people, he would come back very late at night.

Seeing that Xiao Shan didn't go, everyone didn't care too much, thinking that he was remorseful because he accidentally broke Zhao Yuan's bow today, and left after comforting him a few words.

After Xiao Shan and everyone left, he walked towards the backyard where Zhao Yuan lived.

Two-thirds of the guards in the palace have gone out, and the remaining inspectors are few. Xiao Shan has mixed with the guards all the year round, and knowing their inspection routes, it is not very difficult to avoid these people.

Moreover, there should have been two guards on duty outside Zhao Yuan's courtyard today, one was a suspicious element, and the other was the completely reliable Yu Mo.But that suspicious person went to the bathhouse with Wu Hao and others, and only Yu Mo was left outside.

Although Xiao Shan observed Yu Mo silently for a long time, he didn't have much contact with him.Xiao Shan hid in the darkness outside Zhao Yuan's courtyard for a long time, and after seeing that there was no one else around, he appeared and beckoned Yu Mo to come over.

Yu Mo shook his head, indicating that he was on duty and couldn't just walk around.Xiao Shan had no choice but to step forward and said concisely: "Brother Yu, I have something very important to see His Highness, I hope you can help me go in and tell His Highness, and don't let others know about it."

Yu Mo looked Xiao Shan up and down suspiciously, he didn't like Xiao Shan, nothing but because Xiao Shan was Qin Hui's adopted son.

Yu Mo rejected this request: "There is nothing you can't say to others, why do you need to be sneaky?"

Xiao Shan knew that the patrolling soldiers would come again soon, he couldn't explain too much to this reliable person, he just said: "It's about the Qin thief, we must be cautious!"

Yu Mo was taken aback, he never thought that the word Qin thief would come from Xiao Shan's mouth.

Xiao Shan said again: "You just need to go in and tell His Highness, he will naturally understand."

Yu Mo didn't know what Xiao Shan was going to do.But he knew that Zhao Yuan and Qin Hui didn't get along, and now Xiao Shan let him go in to communicate. Although he was full of suspicion, he still entered the inner courtyard according to what Xiao Shan said, and said in front of Zhao Yuan's door: "Your Highness, I have something to see !"

Zhao Yuan didn't open the door, but asked, "What's the matter?"

Yu Mo recalled Xiao Shan's instructions, and said, "Your Highness, please turn your back to the left and right, so that your subordinates dare not tell."

Then a eunuch came out of Zhao Yuan's room, Zhao Yuan also came out immediately, and asked, "Why are you suddenly busy today?"

Yu Mo said: "Qin Shidu is outside the door, saying that he wants to see His Highness." He paused, and said: "It is said that it is related to Qin Xianggong."

Zhao Yuan immediately knew that Xiao Shan had something to do with him, but what Zhao Yuan wondered was why it was Yu Mo who came to inform him.

Yu Mo waited for Zhao Yuan's reply, Zhao Yuan thought for a while and said, "Understood, you let him in after a stick of incense."