Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 156 Lin Chong Gets the Opportunity to Play Cuju (ancient Chinese football)

Emperor Huizong waved to Liu Guangyu in the distance and then whispered a few words to him. Liu Guangyu, having received the imperial decree, approached Gao Can and Xiao Minghao. He found the two men sitting on bamboo chairs, resting, and arguing.

"You, surnamed Xiao, you looked like a dead dog on the field just now, unable to even run. You should tell the Emperor to substitute you later," Gao Can teased Xiao Minghao.

"Hey Gao, don't look down on me. I just don't play Cuju much. I can get back on the field after a rest. Although my Cuju skills aren't as good as yours, let alone as good as His Majesty's, I have no problem assisting in attacks," Xiao Minghao defended himself.

"Lord Xiao, I think you're a weakling. What? Is your daughter, the Prime Minister's daughter, some kind of vixen who drained a lot of your yang energy last night?" the Advisor said sarcastically.

"Lord Gao, my wife is a lady from a respectable family, unlike those vixen-like women you usually associate with," Xiao Minghao retorted sarcastically to Gao Can.

The high-ranking official took a sip of tea, pursed his lips, and said smugly to Xiao Minghao, "I don't like those pretentious ladies from noble families. A woman like Xiao Yanzi, who is charming and alluring in bed, is my type. It's a pity that someone didn't appreciate it, which is why I got such a beauty!"

Xiao Minghao lost his temper as soon as Gao Can mentioned Zou Xiaoyan. He rushed up to Gao Can, grabbed him by the collar, and warned him, "Gao, I advise you not to use my ex-wife to manipulate me anymore. I'm not someone to be trifled with! Besides, all you're doing is wearing my old shoes, what's so great about that!"

"You...you actually said Xiao Yanzi is your old shoe? No wonder she hates you..." Gao Can forcefully slapped Xiao Minghao's hand away, looking at him in surprise. He had previously thought that Xiao Minghao still had feelings for Zou Xiaoyan, but now it seemed that he was willing to insult his ex-wife just to argue with him. It was clear that this man's so-called lingering feelings were nothing more than a possessive act.

The two deities were arguing, but Liu Guangyu didn't want to be a lowly servant and get involved. So Liu Guangyu quickly drew Gao Can and Xiao Minghao's attention to himself, and he said loudly, "Lord Gao, Lord Xiao, His Majesty has decreed that Lord Xiao will be replaced in the football match later, and the Jin Kingdom envoy Mohat will take his place."

Gao Can snorted coldly and glared at Xiao Minghao, the meaning of which was self-evident: he was mocking Xiao Minghao's poor football skills and lack of stamina. The Emperor saw this and decisively substituted Xiao Minghao. However, what was the Emperor's intention in bringing on Mohat? Hadn't he just rejected Gao Can's suggestion to have Mohat play against Lin Chong in football?

Before Gao Can could think further, Mohart was already ready to go onto the Cuju field, so Gao Can had no choice but to return. Gao Can naturally continued to do his best to assist Emperor Huizong in controlling the Cuju ball, protecting the emperor from the sidelines, much to the chagrin of Chen Jinhuan and Chai Nianci. Seeing that Emperor Huizong's Cuju skills were indeed as proficient as the legends, Du Shiniang was somewhat perplexed.

Today, Gao Can and Du Shiniang had discussed it beforehand. They planned to take advantage of Consort Luo's invitation to Emperor Huizong to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football) to remind the emperor of the time when Lin Chong's women's Cuju team played in the palace Cuju competition. They also planned to take advantage of the Jin army's provocation at the border to persuade Emperor Huizong to officially recognize their women's Cuju team and have Lin Chong's women's Cuju team represent the Song Dynasty in the match against the Jin women's Cuju team.

Unexpectedly, a Jin envoy named Mohat appeared out of nowhere. This man's style of playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football) was both forceful and ruthless. Chen Jinhuan nearly had her legs broken several times when she tried to steal his ball. Fortunately, Chen Jinhuan had fought against those fierce-looking prisoners in the Mingfu Cave, which saved her from having her legs broken by Mohat. However, this Jin man was strong and physically powerful, with a clear advantage. Chai Nianci's headers were also suppressed by him twice, which was truly infuriating.

The men's and women's teams played Cuju (ancient Chinese football) for most of the hour. Du Shiniang was starting to feel breathless; unlike Chen Jinhuan and Chai Nianci, she didn't practice Cuju as often, and her stamina was only average. Lin Chong, watching from the sidelines, was getting impatient. His face was grim, and he gritted his teeth. He wanted to call for a break, but he was afraid of angering the Emperor, and besides, he held no official position and couldn't ask the Emperor for anything.

"Your Majesty, my stomach is aching a little. May I rest for a while?" Gao Can pleaded with Emperor Huizong, clutching his lower abdomen. Emperor Huizong, still elated after scoring a goal, was about to refuse, but then he saw Chen Jinhuan across from him wink at him and gesture that she wanted some water. So Emperor Huizong replied casually, "Then rest for a while."

Gao Can immediately expressed his gratitude, then glanced at Du Shiniang. He saw that the woman had already run to Lin Chong, who was bending down to massage her long legs to relax her muscles. Gao Can's face immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He cursed Du Shiniang in his heart for being an ungrateful wretch. If he hadn't realized that the woman was almost exhausted, he wouldn't have pretended to have a stomachache and asked the Emperor to rest.

Just now, Du Shiniang clearly heard him tell the Emperor that he had a stomachache, yet she didn't even come to comfort him. Thinking of this, Gao Can sat down, gritting his teeth in anger. When the imperial physician arrived, he assumed Gao Can was truly suffering from severe stomach pain and immediately examined and treated him. Gao Can pretended to cooperate, but in his heart, he was determined to give Lin Chong's women's football team a legitimate status today, so that he could continue the Wolf King's and their plans.

After resting, Du Shiniang said to Lin Chong, "Brother Lin, I won't be able to play football for a while. His Majesty and those Jin people are too strong. Consort Luo, Sister Chai, and I are definitely going to lose today. What do you suggest we do?"

"Then why don't you tell Consort Luo that you can't play, and ask her to recommend me to the Emperor so I can replace you?" Lin Chong suggested to Du Shiniang. Du Shiniang thought it was a good idea. Lin Chong's football skills and stamina were ten times better than hers. If he played, he could definitely coordinate well with Chen Jinhuan and Chai Nianci, and then they might not necessarily lose today.

So, Du Shiniang had Consort Luo speak to Emperor Huizong of Song, requesting to exchange Lin Chong for her on the Cuju field. Emperor Huizong was already somewhat displeased with Mohart's Cuju style, which was completely different from his own, and how Mohart sometimes even tried to steal the ball from him; he wanted to make Mohart suffer a setback. Lin Chong was undoubtedly better at Cuju and had better stamina than Du Shiniang, so he readily agreed, thinking he would later have Lin Chong teach this Jin man a lesson for stealing his thunder.

When Mohart heard that Lin Chong was going to the Cuju field, he was so happy that he patted Xiao Minghao on the shoulder three times and said to him excitedly, "I didn't expect that I would still have to fight this Lin Chong. Didn't you say that he was the coach of the Song Dynasty women's Cuju team? It's a good opportunity for me to meet this person and see if he is a good-for-nothing or a hawk on the grassland."

Xiao Minghao was displeased. He didn't want Lin Chong to fight Mohart. He had previously protested because of Lin Chong's status, and now Emperor Huizong had actually agreed to let Lin Chong play Cuju (ancient Chinese football), which was completely unexpected. He needed to persuade the emperor again to abandon this practice. Replacing Du Shiniang was fine, but Lin Chong couldn't be allowed to replace her. He thought of Chen Ge, the commander of the Imperial Guards. Wasn't that man always guarding outside the Cuju field?

"Your Majesty, your subject Xiao Minghao wishes to recommend Commander Chen as a substitute for Du Shiniang in Cuju (ancient Chinese football). Lin Chong's status is unsuitable; he holds no official position and is a convict. Lin Chong... he..."

"Enough! My decisions are not open to questioning." Emperor Huizong interrupted Xiao Minghao before he could finish speaking. A cold sweat broke out on Xiao Minghao's forehead. He dared not utter another word and obediently retreated to the sidelines to watch the next match. However, Xiao Minghao felt that Mohart's football skills were as unrestrained as a wild horse on the grasslands. He was certain Lin Chong would get into a physical altercation with him, and the two might even fight. He figured he could just watch the show from the sidelines and then see Gao Can jumping up and down trying to smooth things over for Lin Chong.