Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 77 I Only Want to Lose, Not Win

Seeing Chai Nianci's worried expression as she looked at the lotus pond, Shen Daoyuan walked up to her, put his hand on her shoulder, and said, "Ci'er, don't worry! I was the one who kicked Lu Zhichen into this lotus pond just now. My bodyguard Wu En took the opportunity to knock that monk unconscious in the lotus pond. I guess Wu En has dragged him to the pavilion on the other side by now."

"Why are you teasing my senior brother like this, you surnamed Shen? He's a really nice guy, and he's always been so caring towards me." Chai Nianci glared at Shen Daoyuan and questioned him. Shen Daoyuan quickly pulled Chai Nianci into his arms and said somewhat displeasedly, "Who told him to be so attentive to you? Can't I be a little jealous?"

Chai Nianci pushed Shen Daoyuan's chest with her hand, frowned and said to him, "I only consider him my senior brother. What's the point of you being so jealous? Besides, don't try to change the subject. I was just questioning you about why you agreed to play Cuju with us."

Shen Daoyuan glanced around the lotus pond, seemingly checking for anyone eavesdropping. Chai Nianci was about to ask him something when she suddenly felt herself being lifted into the air; Shen Daoyuan had scooped her up in his arms. Chai Nianci struggled in his embrace, but heard him whisper in her ear, "Ci'er, this isn't the place to talk. Let's go back to your room and talk."

“Let’s go back to the room to talk, my foot isn’t hurt, why are you hugging me? Put me down!” Chai Nianci protested loudly. Shen Daoyuan, however, shamelessly said, “I haven’t seen you for many days, I really want to hug you, just let your husband hug you.”

"Don't even think about taking advantage of me! Put me down right now, Shen Daoyuan..."

"Ci'er, have you not been eating properly these past few days? You seem to have lost weight?"

"I've been eating vegetarian food these days, is that any of your business? Put me down, I can walk by myself."

"I won't let go! I'll hug you a little longer. You smell so good, did you put on a new sachet?"

"Mind your own business! If you don't put me down, I'm going to scream for help!"

“Ci’er, it was Du Shiniang who brought us together in the Octagonal Pavilion. She even promised that I could freely enter and leave the Purple Pavilion to find you. So no matter what you shout, it’s useless. Calling people over to watch will only make you feel embarrassed.” Shen Daoyuan’s last words made Chai Nianci completely afraid to shout, because she was already blushing with embarrassment. If anyone saw her like this, she would want to die.

After carrying Chai Nianci back to her Zihui Pavilion, Shen Daoyuan threw her directly onto the daybed. Chai Nianci tried to get up but Shen Daoyuan pressed her down on the bed. A blush immediately spread across her face, and she said to Shen Daoyuan with some annoyance, "Shen Daoyuan, what do you want to do? This is my boudoir in broad daylight. If you want to find a girl, you should go to the Nuanxiang Pavilion in the east. The courtesans there are all great beauties personally trained by Du Shiniang."

"How could those vulgar be worthy of comparing themselves to my fiancée? Besides, how could you be so heartless as to push me to another woman?" Shen Daoyuan's words had barely faded when he lifted Chai Nianci's hands above her head, pinning her beneath him, and then, without a word, kissed her lips. Chai Nianci was powerless to resist and could only let the man before her pry open his teeth, deepening the kiss.

The fragrance of lotus blossoms drifted on the summer breeze, filling the room with a delicate, enchanting aroma. As Chai Nianci smelled the lotus scent outside the window mingled with the woody fragrance of the man before her, her initial wariness gradually subsided. Chai Nianci was overwhelmed by Shen Daoyuan's passionate and domineering kiss, her eyes half-closed as she turned her head to struggle. Seeing her face flushed with tension, red like a ripe cherry, Shen Daoyuan suddenly felt a urge to pluck it. He released Chai Nianci's hands and began to unbutton the buttons on her blouse. Chai Nianci quickly and forcefully stopped his groping hands.

"What? Are you scared? Are you afraid I'll force you to marry me by making it a fait accompli?" Shen Daoyuan released Chai Nianci's lips and asked in a low voice, staring at her misty eyes with a frivolous tone.

“Shen Lang, today Shi Niang said that you wanted to marry me as soon as possible in front of the Emperor, but I already promised you at the Octagonal Pavilion last time that I would not mention the annulment of the engagement for the time being. Why are you still forcing me? And you even agreed to play against our women’s football team. What exactly do you want?” Chai Nianci grabbed Shen Daoyuan’s hand and questioned him excitedly.

"I want you! You've always been the only one in my heart. Today, I almost got the imperial decree to grant us marriage in front of His Majesty, but Xiao Minghao ruined it all. He even revealed that I had signed a Cuju (ancient Chinese football) challenge with Du Shiniang. The Emperor wanted me to play Cuju with you, but actually it was to test your strength?" Shen Daoyuan lowered his head and gently kissed Chai Nianci's soft hand, speaking with resentment.

"Testing the strength of our women's Cuju team? If that's the case, the five of us have only just begun to get to know each other. How can three days be enough for us to train and get to know each other?" Chai Nianci said with a hint of worry, pursing her lips. After she finished speaking, she gently kissed Shen Daoyuan's lips and said coquettishly, "Shen Lang, since you came to see me today, it means you've thought of a way to get us out of this predicament, right?"

“I… I can’t help it, but you have to believe me, I only want to lose this football match, I don’t want to win.” Shen Daoyuan released Chai Nianci’s hand, sat with his back to him in front of the couch, and stammered his answer.

"Shen Lang, why do you say that? Actually, if you just let us women win a few goals in the Cuju match three days from now, how can you say there's no way to do it?" Chai Nianci hugged Shen Daoyuan's slender waist and pressed her face against his back, asking him affectionately.

Shen Daoyuan turned to the side, lowered his head and kissed Chai Nianci's forehead, sighed softly and said, "Ci'er, this matter is not as simple as you think. Let me analyze it for you. If our side wins against your Cuju team, you cannot officially become a member of the Song State Women's Cuju Team; if your side wins, then the Emperor will suspect that we deliberately let you win, and at that time he will punish us for deceiving the Emperor."

After all, Gao Can and I are among the best in the capital at Cuju (ancient Chinese football), and Lin Chong and Zhou Chengquan are both strong in stamina and martial arts. No matter how the four of us men team up with your five female teammates, it should theoretically be a close contest, unless Xiao Minghao interferes and makes you lose.”

“That guy surnamed Xiao just doesn’t want us to win. He’s trying to sabotage our plan to form a women’s Cuju team with Shi Niang. He’s even more afraid that if we beat the Jin Kingdom’s women’s Cuju team, he won’t be able to force Zou Niangzi to change her mind and become his mistress anymore,” Chai Nianci said through gritted teeth.

Just as Shen Daoyuan was about to say a few words of comfort to Chai Nianci, there was a knock on the door of the side room. Shen Daoyuan sat up from the daybed and walked to the door, asking warily, "Who is it?"

"Lord Shen, our General Zhou would like to meet with you to discuss the Cuju (ancient Chinese football) match in three days. Would it be convenient for you to move to the hot springs at the health center to the south? General Zhou is waiting for you there." Long Yi said respectfully to Shen Daoyuan through the door.

Upon hearing that General Zhou Chengquan of the Northern Garrison wanted to see him, Shen Daoyuan knew that the secret guards at Zixiang Pavilion had already learned of his visit and informed Zhou Chengquan. He was also planning to discuss the women's football match against Lin Chong's team in three days with Zhou Chengquan, so he turned back to Chai Nianci, embraced her, and whispered in her ear, "Ci'er, General Zhou wants to talk to me about the football match. Wait for me, I'll be right back to have dinner with you."

"Okay, Shen Lang, how about I personally cook your favorite sea bass and sesame cakes for you?" Chai Nianci said, looking at Shen Daoyuan with reluctant eyes. Shen Daoyuan reached out and gently smoothed her slightly swollen lips from his kisses, saying, "I like any dish made by Ci'er. Wait for me!"

After Shen Daoyuan finished speaking, he got up and left Chai Nianci's boudoir, following Long Yi to the hot spring pool in the health center to the south. When he arrived at the hot spring pool, he saw Du Shiniang sitting by the pool massaging Zhou Chengquan's back. Zhou Chengquan was only wearing an undergarment, his eyes half-closed as he enjoyed Du Shiniang's gentle touch.

When Du Shiniang saw Shen Daoyuan arrive, she greeted him warmly, saying, "Lord Shen, you are indeed in Sister Chai's room. I heard from the guards that you came to see Sister Chai." Shen Daoyuan coughed lightly, trying to cover up his embarrassment at having blatantly barged into Zixiang Pavilion to see his fiancée.

"Brother Shen, I didn't expect you to have such privileges. Shi Niang's Zi Xiang Pavilion in Bianjing City is not a place that any young master from a noble family or high-ranking official can come and go as they please. Hehe! It seems that Brother Shen will not make things difficult for Lin Chong's women's Cuju team in the Cuju competition three days later, right?" Zhou Chengquan opened his eyes and said to Shen Daoyuan, who had unknowingly sat down next to him and was soaking in the hot spring, in a teasing tone.

"General Zhou, are you trying to plead for Lin Chong and Shi Niang, asking me to deliberately lose to them?" Shen Daoyuan asked with a frown. However, before Zhou Chengquan could answer, Du Shi Niang interrupted, "Lord Shen, General Zhou means you want to put on a show with us to deceive the Emperor. I know you don't actually want to win, right?"

Shen Daoyuan glanced at Du Shiniang by the pool and saw that the hem of her pink gauze dress was already damp from the steam in the hot spring. In addition, she had been massaging Zhou Chengquan's shoulders and back, and her neck and forehead were covered in sweat. Her small face was also flushed. Du Shiniang's pitiful appearance made Shen Daoyuan feel guilty.

So Shen Daoyuan looked into Du Shiniang's eyes apologetically and said, "I'm sorry! I'm not confident that you can win the football match three days from now, unless you can successfully stop Xiao Minghao from causing trouble on the field. Also, I don't think it's good for General Zhou to play. After all, His Majesty knows about his private relationship with you, Shiniang, and will assume that General Zhou is just putting on an act."