Walking out of Changning Palace with the Empress's prescription, Situ You sidled up to me. "Nannan, Qingyun Academy has invited us to play polo. I was worried we wouldn't win, but now that you're back, I'm not afraid. Let's go, let's go, we can practice right away."
Noble activities often involved polo, and it was particularly popular among academies.
Situ You studied in the Imperial Study, with dedicated tutors for every subject, yet none dared to challenge the students of the Imperial Study to a match.
This fellow never liked studying. After thirteen years in the Imperial Study, he still hadn't memorized the Four Books and Five Classics. To play polo, he had to agree to the Emperor's condition and memorize them all. The Emperor, finding the boy reminiscent of his father, figured he would never become a scholar and let him be.
"I'm not going."
"Why not?"
I waved the prescription in my hand at him. "The Empress gave me a prescription to help me get fairer quickly. The autumn sun is so scorching. If I get tanned again, I won't be able to go out for the rest of the year."
Situ You stroked his chin and studied me for a while. "You do need to be fairer. Otherwise, this dark complexion won't pass for Zi Huan."
Wang Zi Huan, my full elder brother. We weren't twins, but we looked remarkably alike. However, my brother was a scholar, and when we were put together, he appeared much more refined.
My father often lamented that he had given birth to us in the wrong order.
I continued walking, but Situ You called out, "Why don't you put on some makeup? Zi Huan has started to fill out recently. You should play a few more games quickly, or you won't be able to impersonate him on the field anymore."
"It's fine, I can form a team with Sui Sui and the others."
"Don't say that. What's the fun in you playing with the girls? It's much more exhilarating to play with us. Besides, our coordination is so good."
True, I wasn't looking down on the girls' skills. In fact, Sui Sui and the others played quite well. But I was like my mother, blessed with brute strength. Using too much force could easily injure someone. Playing with men, I wasn't afraid. They were more robust and could take more hits than the girls.
"It's settled. I haven't played for over half a year, so don't blame me if I lose."
Situ You beamed. "How could we? Even if your skill level drops by half, you're still better than Zi Huan, aren't you? Ever since you left, he's sprained himself seven or eight times trying to cover up his terrible playing, hahaha."
Me: ...
Big Brother, I'm sorry for you.
As I lowered my head in penance, Situ You suddenly stopped. "Big Brother, are you also here to see Mother?"
"Mm." A deep voice sounded, and my heart skipped a beat. Looking up, I saw the Crown Prince standing before us. Like a jade tree in the wind, his features were clear and sharp. However, he always carried a hint of coldness when he looked at people, and it was even more pronounced now.
I quickly curtsied. "Your Highness, may you be in peace."
"Where are you two going?"
"To play polo. Brother, do you want to come? Nannan and I have great coordination."
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. "Mixed-gender polo in the capital? Since when?"
Situ You said gleefully, "Of course, we can't tell people Nannan is a girl! Everyone thinks she's Zi Huan."
"Nonsense, you're becoming more unruly."
"Brother, why are you so angry? This isn't the first or second time we've done this, and we've never been found out."
"No. Miss Wang was not yet of age before, but now, she is about to be presented for matchmaking. If it were discovered that she was playing polo with a group of men, which man would dare to marry her."
"At worst, I'll marry her." Situ You suddenly became excited. "Nannan, what do you think of this idea? After we get married, our spars will be much more convenient."
I couldn't help but kick him. "Shut up."
This guy was so adept at dodging my surprise kicks that he could do it without looking. Yet, he still let out a pained cry. "Ouch, ouch, ouch! Brother, what are you doing?"
The Crown Prince grabbed one of his ears, his brow furrowed into a tight knot. "Ungovernable. Go back and write three more policy essays for me."
"Oh no, Big Brother, I just handed you the ones from the day before yesterday this morning."
"A woman's marriage is not something to be trifled with."
The Crown Prince's expression grew even more displeased. I quietly moved to the side. Surely he wouldn't think I was deliberately seducing his brother? However, seeing how pitifully Situ You was crying out, I couldn't just stand by. I had to brace myself and plead for him, while also stating my position. "Your Highness, Second Prince and I are usually just joking around. These words are not to be taken seriously."
"Then you should not speak so carelessly."
Situ You, having finally rescued his ear, shouted indignantly, "Who says it's not serious? Nannan, I'll go and ask Mother to bestow the marriage right now."