Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 35 The High Advisor Returns to Zixiang Pavilion

Lin Chong, along with Wu Song and Lu Zhichen, and Zou Xiaoyan, leading Du Rushuang and Chai Nianci, successfully returned to Zixiang Pavilion. Upon arriving at the main gate, Lin Chong saw a magnificent carriage parked beside it, with a flag bearing the character "Gao" (高, meaning "high") on it. Lin Chong knew that Gao, the advisor, had returned to Zixiang Pavilion.

Why did Gao Can come this time? Was it because he found out that Lin Chong had secretly abducted Pan Jinghe? Or was he still determined to keep bothering Du Shiniang? But whatever the reason, it was enough to stir up waves in Lin Chong's heart.

At this moment, Gao Can was sitting in Du Shiniang's room, nodding as he listened to Hua Niang playing the zither, while drinking peach blossom wine that Du Shiniang had personally poured for him. Today, Zou Xiaoyan happened to be summoned to Hongyanfang by a high-ranking official, so Du Shiniang had no choice but to bite the bullet and personally entertain Gao Can.

"Shi Niang, don't try to shirk your duties, come and have a drink with me." Gao Can raised a wine cup high, his eyes half-closed, and loudly invited Du Shiniang to drink with him. Du Shiniang knew that Gao Can had taken a liking to her after seeing her resemblance to Lin Chong's deceased wife during his last visit. Therefore, she had spent more than an hour having the singing and dancing girls from Zi Xiang Pavilion keep Gao Can company, but who knew that the fellow would not even look at those beauties and would only have his mind on her.

"Shi Niang, aren't you coming over here? Do you want me to feed you this peach blossom wine?" Gao Can urged sarcastically. Du Shiniang smirked, clearly reluctantly walking to Gao Can's side, a handkerchief crumpled in her hand. Gao Can noticed Du Shiniang's mood, and as she approached, he pulled her into his arms, picking up a wine cup with his other hand and bringing it to Du Shiniang's lips.

"Shi Niang, when we first met, you didn't treat me like this. Are you planning to kick me while I'm down? I promised you I could form a new women's Cuju team, and you promised me you'd give me anything I wanted, even your own life." Gao Can stared at Du Shiniang's slightly evasive eyes and said sinisterly, but the wine cup in his hand remained to Du Shiniang's lips.

Knowing full well, Du Shiniang brought her lips close to the wine cup in Gao Can's hand, tilted her head back and drank the peach blossom wine. Then, she suddenly pressed her two bright red lips to Gao Can's, transferring some of her wine to him. Gao Can immediately reacted as if struck by lightning, taking the initiative and encircling Du Shiniang's lips and tongue in his own territory. The sweet fragrance of peach blossoms and the aroma of wine flowed between their mouths.

Just as Gao Can was enjoying Du Shiniang's sweet kiss, the door to the room was kicked open with a loud bang. Du Shiniang saw the man who had barged in, his face full of anger, staring at Gao Can with wide eyes, holding a pot of wine in his hand. Who else could this be but Lin Chong? Upon seeing Lin Chong, Du Shiniang immediately sat up straight and broke free from Gao Can's embrace.

Gao Jian's face darkened instantly upon realizing Lin Chong had interrupted his enjoyment. He casually tossed the empty wine cup he had been holding onto the ground beside the table. Seeing Du Shiniang had left his embrace, Gao Jian quickly pulled her back into his arms, holding her tightly. He glanced sideways at Lin Chong, asking somewhat angrily, "Instructor Lin, why did you so casually barge into Du Shiniang's boudoir and disturb our pleasure!"

"Lord Gao, I apologize for disturbing you and Shi Niang! Lin Chong just returned from running errands outside and saw Lord Gao's carriage outside the gate. I guessed that since you were here, you must be going to Shi Niang's room. I just got a pot of fine wine called Nong Shuang, which is a rare and excellent wine. I was in a hurry to present it to you, so I rushed in just now."

While speaking apologetically to Gao Can, Lin Chong placed the strong frost wine in his hand on the table, pulled out the cork from the wine pot, and poured out two full cups of strong frost wine.

"This strong frost wine smells so good, Lord Gao, please forgive Lin Chong's rash behavior this time!" Du Shiniang picked up a cup of strong frost wine that Lin Chong had just poured and put it to Gao Can's lips, then said to him coquettishly, "Come on! Lord, please have a taste."

Gao Can knew that Lin Chong had deliberately barged into the room, but he felt that now was not the time to break ties with Lin Chong, especially since Du Shiniang had been so obsequious to him. So he suppressed his anger, grabbed the cup of strong frost wine from Du Shiniang's hand, tilted his head back and drank it down in one gulp. Then he kissed Du Shiniang's cheek before looking at Lin Chong and saying, "This strong frost wine is indeed fragrant and mellow. I, the young master, will not hold it against you today."

Seeing Gao Can openly disrespect Du Shiniang, Lin Chong was already furious. However, he still needed Gao Can's guidance regarding the women's football team, so he bit his lip and swallowed his anger. Then, Lin Chong cupped his hands and said to Gao Can, "Lord Gao, I heard that His Majesty has issued a letter of appointment to Du Shiniang. I wonder if your visit today is for this matter?"

"I didn't expect Instructor Lin to be so well-informed. His Majesty did indeed issue a letter of appointment to Du Shiniang. However, I am still a little hesitant and would like to discuss this further with Shiniang and you to find out exactly how you plan to complete the reorganization of our dynasty's women's Cuju team before handing the letter of appointment to Shiniang." Seeing that Lin Chong had brought up the matter of the letter of appointment directly, Gao no longer concealed anything and simply revealed the purpose of his visit to Zishuang Pavilion today.

Upon hearing the purpose of Gao Can's visit, Du Shiniang immediately frowned and asked him in a coquettish tone, "Lord Gao, did you just say that you don't believe in Shiniang and Instructor Lin's abilities? Then what do you want in order for you to hand over the letter of appointment to me?"

Gao Jian saw Du Shiniang lower her posture and act as if she wanted to please him. He reached out and touched Du Shiniang's pointed chin, and said to her gently, "Shiniang, how many elite members of the women's Cuju team have you recruited these past few days? I said last time that the members of your Zixiang Pavilion women's Cuju team are not yet strong enough to compete with the Jin Kingdom's women's Cuju team."

“I already said last time that Du Rushuang and Zou Xiaoyan count as two, and I’m trying to recruit the other female Cuju players. Why don’t you give us more time?” Du Shiniang nestled in Gao Can’s arms, gently shaking his hand. Her eyes were filled with sorrow, and her tone was still as gentle as water.

“Shi Niang, it’s not that I don’t want to give you time, it’s just that the match we agreed on with the Jin Kingdom’s women’s Cuju team is in three months. We can’t wait to recruit players. Ten days have passed since the imperial edict was posted and the Emperor issued the appointment letter. That’s why I’m here today to ask you for a list of players for the women’s Cuju team. We don’t need too many players, just five regular players and one reserve player.” Gao Can released his hand from Du Shiniang’s and seriously expressed his concerns to her, completely devoid of the playfulness and frivolity he had shown when he was flirting with her earlier.

Upon seeing this, Lin Chong quickly and solemnly said to Gao Can, "Lord Gao, the reason I went out these past few days was to recruit members for the women's Cuju team. However, the two female members I found this time... their identities are... a bit special."

"Instructor Lin, what's so special about the woman you've found? Tell me quickly, and I'll see if I can find a way to help you," Gao Can said urgently, glancing at Lin Chong with a puzzled look.

Lin Chong and Du Shiniang exchanged a glance. Du Shiniang nodded secretly. Lin Chong then first mentioned his childhood sweetheart, Pan Jinghe. He respectfully said to Gao Can, "Lord Gao, I think Pan Jinghe from the Jiaofangsi is one of the suitable candidates for our dynasty's women's football team. Because of her..."

Before Lin Chong could finish praising Pan Jinghe, Gao Can impatiently waved his hand to stop him. Gao Can stepped forward and patted Lin Chong's left shoulder, his face stern as he questioned him: "Lin Chong, don't think I can't see your ulterior motives in this matter. Isn't Pan Jinghe your childhood sweetheart who almost married you?"

Lin Chong was a little embarrassed to learn that Gao Can knew about his relationship with Pan Jinghe, but he still patiently explained to Gao Can his reasons for choosing Pan Jinghe:

"Lord Gao, Jinghe is indeed a close friend from a prominent family who grew up with me. However, her family has fallen on hard times, and I feel sorry for her and want to help her escape her misery. But Jinghe does have great potential in Cuju (ancient Chinese football). She is several feet taller than the average woman, and she has a slender figure with long legs. Since joining the Jiaofangsi (a type of brothel), she has practiced diligently day and night and mastered dance skills, becoming the top dancer in the Jiaofangsi."

Upon hearing this, Gao Can interrupted Lin Chong, saying, "I've met Pan Jinghe before. She was chosen by my adoptive father as a birthday gift for the Crown Prince, but unfortunately, her face was disfigured a few days ago, and my father had to choose another woman to replace her. I like that little beauty and originally wanted to take her into my household as a maid to accompany me in practicing Cuju (ancient Chinese football). Unfortunately, my adoptive father took a liking to her first. Yesterday, I went to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district) to look for her, but I heard that she had disappeared."

Lin Chong quickly said, "After Pan Jinghe was disfigured, I disguised myself as a Taoist priest and redeemed her from the brothel. Now I'm hiding her away to recuperate. Her Cuju dance was taught by Grand Commandant Gao, and she dances very well!"

"So it was you who had the audacity to abduct Pan Jinghe from the brothel! She was a woman my godfather and I both had our eyes on." After learning that Lin Chong had tricked Pan Jinghe, Gao Can's face immediately changed, and he pointed at Lin Chong's nose and rebuked him with an air of accusation.